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FETAL TISSUE RESEARCH.
Term Paper ID:22210
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Essay Subject:
Ethical pros & cons, medical & scientific benefits (Parkinson's disease treatment), legality, definition of life.... More...
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8 Pages / 1800 Words
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Paper Abstract:
Ethical pros & cons, medical & scientific benefits (Parkinson's disease treatment), legality, definition of life.
Paper Introduction:
Fetal tissue research is an ethical battlefield, the controversial nature of which is exacerbated by its link to the abortion issue. In question is the moral status of the fetus versus the scientific imperative to perform biomedical research for the benefit of society. Pro-life advocates contend that the fetus is a living person deserving of respect, even in death. Many in the scientific community regard the fetus as nonessential living tissue of unsurpassed value in clinical and basic experiments. In between these two opposing viewpoints is an elusive middle ground.
Fetal cells possess remarkable characteristics that are highly prized by medical researchers and practitioners. These cells are highly durable and can thrive under conditions that would thwart the viability of adult cells. Once transplanted,
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Opponents of fetal tissue research fear that thepractice will, at the very least, legitimize abortion. New York: St. The best fetal cells for use in medical applicationscome from elective abortions, of which 1.5 million are performed each year. As a non-person, the early fetus is regarded as neitherhuman research subject nor corpse and thus is fair game for scientificresearch unrestrained by ethical concerns: "Indeed some argue that thedesire to do research encourages scientists to define the fetus asdiscarded tissue" (4:1 2). A search for limits. When abortions save lives. The dilemma in fetal tissue research lies in theabsence of a responsible moral agent to give proxy consent for the use ofthe fetus as a research subject. Thelikelihood of rejection of fetal cells is minimal because of their plasticquality. As one Parkinson'spatient remarked, "If everyone involved in the [fetal tissue] debate couldhave Parkinson's for one month, they'd change their minds" (5:53). Sincethen, remarkable success stories have circulated, with some patientsclaiming 8 percent relief from former disabilities. One of the most persuasive supporters on the issue is the Rev.Guy Walden, a Florida preacher. Fetal cells possess remarkable characteristics that are highly prizedby medical researchers and practitioners. Fetal tissue transplants have numerous potential medicalapplications. In 1988, fetal cell experiments came to a standstill in the UnitedStates because of a moratorium on federal research funding. Most abortions occur in hospitals and clinics, where fetuses can bereadily harvested and stored. Thebiggest fear of pro-life advocates is the creation of a market for fetalorgans that might bring the profit factor into a woman's decision to abort: "Fetal-tissue transplantation threatens to become an unsupervised privateindustry" (7:53). As one expert describes it,"Perfunctory dicing, shearing, pounding--all perfectly acceptable for anexcised tumor or kidney--require special justification when the 'tissuefragment' is a fetal corpse" (4:1 1). Theadvanced stage of Parkinson's results in uncontrollable movements,rigidity, and even paralysis. If the fetus is accorded the moral rights of full personhood,then experimentation on live fetuses is precluded and moral controversywould even hamper the use of fetal cadavers. April 6, 1992.6. Pro-lifeadvocates contend that the fetus is a living person deserving of respect,even in death. Woodward, K. News and World Report. Once transplanted, fetal cells exhibit prodigious growthcapability; they even appear to secrete chemical growth enhancers. Biologically, a fetus is described in terms ofpreviability and viability. The disease begins with tremors in theextremities, then proceeds relentlessly to the entire nervous system. Granted, the week-old embryo is not identical to a matureadult, but the embryo's potential for self-consciousness endows it withpersonhood. 123-128. Walden, whose two previous children diedof Hurler's syndrome, sanctioned the use of fetal cell implantation on hisremaining son who also suffers from the fatal disease. The push for more widespread use of fetal tissue will intensify asevidence for the efficacy of these cells in the treatment of disease isconfirmed. Inextolling the virtues of fetal cells, one neurosurgeon remarked, "There'ssomething magic about them" (5:52). Time. The viable period occurs when thefetus is capable of surviving outside the mother's womb. Because mental capacity remains undiminisheduntil the onset of the late stages of the disease, victims undergo extrememental anguish as the symptoms progressively worsen. Currently, most fetal tissue transplantation has relied onlaboratory rats. Ed. Many in the scientific community regard the fetus asnonessential living tissue of unsurpassed value in clinical and basicexperiments. If we can save a life, shouldn't we?" (5:53). Diverse perceptionsof the status of the fetus make it difficult to develop ethical researchguidelines satisfactory to both pro-life advocates and the scientificcommunity. Skeptics theorize that patient recovery from Parkinson's diseaseafter implantation surgery may result from factors unrelated to fetal cellgrafts. Maynard-Moody, S. Cells in the embryonic stage have not yet been encoded with rigidbiological imprints; therefore, fetal tissues are less specialized thantheir adult counterparts: "In an adult, tissue is highly specialized--muscle tissue cannot take on the work of the liver--but cells taken fromfetuses, perhaps into the third trimester, retain much of theiradaptability" (4:51). The use of fetal tissue transplants in the treatment of Parkinson'sdisease has been widely publicized. Begley, S. Possible applications of fetal neural tissue include visionimpairment, spinal-cord injuries, memory deficits, and degenerativedisorders such as Huntington's chorea, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson'sdisease. The perspective that views the fetus as a potential person emphasizesthat, although the fetus always possesses a potential claim to personhood,that claim becomes stronger as biological development proceeds. Biomedical Ethics: Opposing Viewpoints. Watson, T. Wade. On the opposite side are pro-life advocates who find theuse of fetal corpses in research morally unconscionable. Fetal tissue's efficacy has not been proven. However, because surgeons have transplanted baboon organsinto human subjects, researchers are considering the future use of primatefetal tissue, despite the fact that many primates are endangered species.The creation of donor colonies of primates for the harvesting of tissuewould lead to almost as much controversy as the human fetal tissue debate.Moral concerns are also raised by the very implantation of tissue from sub-human species into human subjects. Inquestion is the moral status of the fetus versus the scientific imperativeto perform biomedical research for the benefit of society. Animal rights organizations estimate thatapproximately 5 million animals are killed annually as a result of theiruse in science. Fetal tissue also has the ability to restore damagein the host environment and to replace biochemical functions (4). Literature Cited1. Fumento, M. Abortion opponents worry that fetal tissue research would lead toexploitation and abuse. Those who regard the fetus as a person contend that every stage ofhuman existence is equally important regardless of its placement along thecontinuum of life. A fetus is an embryo that has passed the eight-week gestation period after fertilization of the ovum by the sperm. These cells are highly durableand can thrive under conditions that would thwart the viability of adultcells. U.S. Another reason the scientific communityfavors human fetal tissue over primate tissue is the advantage of greaterreliability--medical research which succeeds on animal subjects hasperiodically proven unsuccessful on human beings. Even supporters of fetal tissueresearch admit that current evidence of its efficacy is inconclusive: "Whatis needed is very controlled clinical trials in a well-designed scientificframework" (1:5 ). Thompson, D. Martin's Press; 1995.5. Theefficacy of such an approach is widely debated. Possible transplantation sites include the brain, the spinalcord, the thymus, the pancreas, and bone marrow. The transplantappears to have saved the younger Walden's life. Therefore, the fetus exists as a person from the momentof conception. Parkinson's is a degenerative diseasethat afflicts one-half million Americans. The legal definition of a viable fetus was established by the SupremeCourt ruling in Roe v. Supporters of the viewpoint that the fetus is a non-person generallyapply this belief until the fetus develops brain functions, although theprecise period when brain function develops is open to debate. Cures from the womb. Brainfunctions transform the fetus into a sentient being, capable of feelingpleasure or pain. The very act of probing the brain surgically may be enough tostimulate diseased cells to trigger dopamine release. The scientific community, naturallyopposed to standards that would restrict research, contends that thepromise of higher benefits justifies the assumption of greater risks toresearch subjects. Another consequence of an unregulated fetal tissueindustry could be the eventual use of fetal tissue for cosmetic andnonmedical purposes. Campbell, A., Gillet, G., and Jones, G. In contrast, most early miscarriages occuraway from clinical sites, making the recovery of fetal tissue difficult.Further, fetal cells from miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies oftenexhibit high rates of abnormalities, precluding their use in research andtherapy. In between these two opposing viewpoints is an elusive middleground. New York: Oxford University Press; 1992.3. The Court thus rejected theanti-abortion advocates' claim that abortion was murder. Practical medical ethics. Implants from the fetal pancreas have been used with some successin treating diabetes (albeit patients still need insulin) and certaingenetic diseases. Tissue from the thymusarea of the fetus could possibly treat leukemia, aplastic anemia, inheritedmetabolic disorders, radiation injuries, and severe combined immunedeficiency. The major viewpoints on the moral status of the fetus are that it isa person, a non-person, or a potential person (2:5 ). Support for fetal tissue research also comes from animal rightsactivists, who argue that it would reduce the medical community'sdependence on animal research. The elder Walden, aformer anti-abortion activist, states, "We're not talking about whether aperson has a right to have an abortion. 5 - 51; August 8, 1994.7. A tissue of promises. Newsweek. On one side are scientists who consider fetal cells essential tomedical research. Thepreviable period generally applies to any fetus younger than 22 weeks andweighing less than 5 grams (4:79). The abundance of fetal tissue is another benefit that makes fetalresearch attractive. The controversy over fetal tissue research centers on the verydefinition of life itself. Terry O'Neill. 52-53; February 22, 1993.----------------------- 9 The dilemma of the fetus. In the treatment of Parkinson's disease, physicians graft fetaltissue cells onto the brain in hopes of stimulating lost functions. Fetal tissue research is an ethical battlefield, the controversialnature of which is exacerbated by its link to the abortion issue. Pro-life advocates argue that, once awoman decides on an abortion, she no longer acts in the best interest ofthe fetus, thus voiding the maternal right to proxy consent. The politicalcontroversy engendered by fetal tissue research demonstrates an ongoingconflict between scientific freedom and moral responsibility. Or the patients maybe experiencing the mysterious remission and relapse cycle thatcharacterizes Parkinson's disease. The issue of fetal tissue research does not lend itself to easyanswers. Newsweek. A leadingneurosurgeon regards these claims as "absolute science fiction" and notesfurther, "The brain is a unique organ that doesn't regenerate new cells andthis isn't going to be changed by anybody" (3:124). They fear that children will be conceived for thesole purpose of donating fetal cells and that women considering abortionmay be unduly influenced by doctors who support fetal tissue research. 49-51; February 22, 1993.2. In Parkinson's disease, cells inthe region of the brain stem die and are thus no longer able to supply theneurotransmitter dopamine. Proponents of absolute standards claim thatthe benefits of stretching the biomedical research envelope do not justifythe cost in human values (4:1 4). Part of the difficulty in establishing ethical standards for fetaltissue research lies in the ongoing conflict between those who wish toimpose absolute standards and those who favor a more flexible approach thatbalances risks and benefits. But right now this tissue is beingthrown in the trash cans. The medicalcommunity uses a conservative estimate of previability because determiningthe precise age of the fetus while still in the womb is difficult: "Thecurrent viability standard is, therefore, set not at the point where fetallong-term survivability is rare, but at the point where it is consideredmedically impossible" (4:8 ). San Diego: Greenhaven Press; 1994.4. The ban wasprompted in part by anti-abortion sentiment in the Reagan administration.Opponents of fetal tissue research circulated reports of scientificexperiments in which live fetuses were decapitated or kept alive in salinesolution. PresidentBill Clinton lifted the moratorium shortly after taking office, claimingthat scientific research should not be held hostage to abortion politics. The first fetal celltransplant into a Parkinson's disease patient occurred in 1988. In thisintermediate position, society acknowledges the difference between thedeath of a fetus and the death of a stillborn child: "Both entail thedeath of human life, and yet under most circumstances the loss of a lifewhich 'almost-made-it' is felt much more acutely than that of a life whichhad 'hardly-begun-to-develop'" (2:54). Outrage over such experimentation forced the American public toexamine its thinking about the moral status of the human fetus. The Court determined that fetal viabilityoccurs near the end of the second trimester of pregnancy and gave thepreviable fetus no legal standing as a person. 52-53.
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