by Natasha Gilani

Created on: June 12, 2009

Embryonic stem cell research has generated a significant amount of controversy, and debate among its supporters, and opponents. This controversy becomes intense over the question of whether the American federal government should fund such research. At the center of this debate is a complex set of ethical, political, and legal issues. Supporters of embryonic stem cell research argue that such research may help cure diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes, and it offers scientists an opportunity to advance their understanding of genetic disorders. In addition, the research will lead to intervention whereby damaged tissues are replaced, and transplanted organs are created from a patient's own cells, solving the problem of tissue and organ rejection.

The opposition to this research is based on the argument that deriving embryonic stem cells leads to the destruction of a human embryo, which is equivalent to murder. Opponents further maintain that the human embryo deserves the same respect and rights as a fully developed human being, thus creating and then murdering human embryos for the benefit of another is unethical. Finally, critics note that research on adult stem cells hold the same scientific premise without the attendant ethical problems.
President George W. Bush in August 2001 declared that federal funding for embryonic stem cell research would be limited to stem cell lines already in existence prior to August 9, 2001. On that day, President Bush gave his final nationally televised address to the nation, presenting a summary of stem cell research, its potential benefits, and the sources of stem cells. He noted that federal funds were important for the advancement of biomedical research.

President Bush declared that this decision allows us to explore the promise and potential of stem cell research without crossing a fundamental moral line, by providing taxpayer funding that would sanction or encourage further destruction of human embryos that have at least the potential for life. This policy was aimed to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to destroy human embryos.
He indicated that the federal government would continue to support research on stem cells derived from other sources, such as: the umbilical cord blood, placentas, and adult and animal tissues. However, no executive order for this policy was issued and it was simply announced in a speech.

Under the Bush guidelines, federal funds could only be used for research on stem cell lines

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