Is Stem Cell = Research Ethical?

May 5, 2010 / 21 Iyar 5770
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Is Stem Cell Research Ethical?

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Is the destruction of preexisting pre-embryos permitted for stem cell = research?

by Daniel Eisenberg, = M.D.=20

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Today, a man lies dying of liver failure in a hospital. There is = little=20 expectation that he will be one of the lucky few to receive a transplant = before=20 he becomes too ill to save. Even if he did receive a transplant, he will = be=20 burdened with taking multiple anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his = life,=20 which in and of themselves would significantly compromise his = health.

Tomorrow, scientists develop a method to build this man a new liver, = one that=20 would be a perfect match for him, requiring no anti-rejection drugs = whatsoever.=20 There is a catch. To perfect such a solution would require the = destruction of=20 other lives. Would Judaism sanction such a solution?

Jewish law clearly forbids the taking of one life to save another. = The Talmud=20 forbids saving one's life at the expense of another by asking how one = knows that=20 his life is more valuable than his neighbor's. Perhaps your neighbor's = life is=20 more valuable.

WHEN THE FETUS IS A THREAT TO LIFE

One may kill someone who is unjustly = pursuing a=20 third party to kill him.

But, what if the life that would need to be sacrificed was that of a = fetus?=20 May we permit abortion to save the life of an already born person? The = Mishna=20 clearly states that if the life of a woman in labor is threatened by her = fetus,=20 the fetus should be aborted. But once a portion of the baby has = emerged,=20 we may not abort the fetus, because "one may not set aside one person's = life for=20 the sake of another." The principle behind this ruling is that one may = kill=20 someone who is unjustly pursuing a third party to kill him. Since the = fetus, who=20 is not yet considered a "complete" person, is "pursuing" the mother in a = way=20 that will inevitably result in her death, we may kill it first. But, = once it has=20 even partially emerged, it is considered a full-fledged person. Now we = are faced=20 with a dilemma, states Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, one of the most respected = rabbis=20 of the 20th century: who is pursuing whom?

WHEN PURSUING EACH OTHER

Imagine that you are transported back in time to Weehawken, New = Jersey, on=20 July 11, 1804. As you step out of the time machine you see Aaron Burr, = pulling=20 out a revolver to shoot Alexander Hamilton, Former United States = Secretary Of=20 The Treasury. Simultaneously, you see Hamilton also drawing his revolver = to kill=20 Burr! What should you do? Kill Burr? Kill Hamilton? Jewish law would = rule that=20 you may kill neither, because they are pursuing each other and you do = not know=20 which one, if either, is an innocent party.

In our case of the baby struggling to be born at the expense of the = mother=20 and the mother struggling to survive at the expense of the fetus, are = not the=20 baby and the mother each "pursuing" the other? In such a case, the = general rule=20 is that we may not choose either, since each is a complete and = autonomous=20 person, and each is both the pursuer and the pursued. Luckily for us, = these=20 scenarios are very rare occurrences in our day thanks to Caesarian = sections.

A life-threatening situation for another = adult=20 would not justify our killing a fetus.

But, since the rationale for abortion in Jewish law is based on the = fetus=20 being a pursuer of the mother, a life-threatening situation for = another=20 adult would not justify our killing a fetus, since the fetus does not = threaten=20 the life of anyone except the mother. Therefore, we cannot allow = abortion, even=20 to save the life of our patient with liver failure.

DESTROYING "PRE-EMBRYOS"

But there is hope. What if the scientists "merely" needed to destroy = excess=20 fertilized eggs from in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures that are = only a few=20 days old and have not yet been implanted in a woman's uterus? Is the = destruction=20 of these "pre-embryos" ethically acceptable to us? That is exactly the = debate=20 that currently rages regarding stem cell research.

While stem cells can be derived from aborted fetuses and even adults, = the=20 best source for stem cells is the small clump of cells that compose the = early=20 zygote only a few days following conception. Therefore, to best = investigate the=20 latent possibilities inherent in stem cells, scientists wish to use the=20 approximately 100,000 "excess" frozen pre-embryos that are "left over" = from=20 earlier IVF attempts. Is it ethical to allow the destruction of = pre-embryos to=20 obtain stem cells for research that may some day save thousands of = lives?

Early stem cells have the ability to differentiate into every cell of = the=20 human body, potentially forming an entire fetus. If we were able to = manipulate=20 the conditions controlling cellular differentiation, we might create = replacement=20 cells and organs, potentially curing illnesses such as diabetes, = Alzheimer's=20 disease, and Parkinson's disease.

But, the ultimate promise of stem cell technology would be to combine = it with=20 cloning. Imagine our man dying of liver failure. If we could clone one = of his=20 cells, but instead of allowing the cloned cell to develop into a fetus, = we might=20 place it into the appropriate environment that would cause it to = differentiate=20 into a liver that would be virtually genetically identical to that of = the sick=20 man. If we could "grow" this liver to maturity, we could offer the sick = man a=20 liver transplant without the risk of rejection and without the need for=20 anti-rejection drugs.

Unfortunately, we still do not know if we can successfully clone a = human, nor=20 are we sure what practical value can be derived from stem cells. It will = require=20 years of very expensive, labor-intensive research to determine the = potential=20 that stem cells hold for the treatment, palliation, and cure of human=20 illness.

ARE "PRE-EMBRYOS" INCLUDED IN THE PROHIBITION OF = ABORTION?

Is it ethical to sacrifice pre-embryos to experiment with their stem = cells in=20 the hope of some day saving many lives? While many ethical issues arise, = the key=20 one is whether pre-embryos are included in the prohibition of abortion. = The=20 consensus thus far is that it an embryo is not protected by the = limitations on=20 abortion until it is implanted in a woman. Most rationales given for why = the=20 Torah forbids abortion, except to save the mother's life, revolve around = the=20 fetus being within the woman.

The consensus is that an embryo is not = protected=20 by the limitations on abortion until it is implanted in a = woman.

The logic of only ascribing humanity to an embryo once it is = implanted in the=20 womb is simple. Left undisturbed, an embryo in its mother's womb will = most=20 likely continue to grow and reach parturition. But the pre-embryo = created by=20 IVF, if left untouched in its "test tube," will die. The pre-embryo = requires=20 active intervention to even reach a situation which we consider to be = true=20 potential life. The alternative to this reasoning would be to argue that = the=20 killing of adult skin cells is forbidden, since a person could = potentially be=20 cloned from any cell in an adult's body.

ANOTHER RATIONALE

Additionally, there is another sound reason to allow destruction of=20 pre-embryos to save a life. When necessary to save a life, Judaism = requires us=20 to transgress all of the laws in the Torah, with the exception of = murder,=20 adultery, and idol worship. For example, if someone is gravely ill on = Yom=20 Kippur, we would drive in a car to get them non-kosher food even if = necessary to=20 save their life. If a pre-embryo is not covered by the Biblical = commandment of=20 "thou shall not murder," then we might allow destroying a pre-embryo for = its=20 stem cells if it would save the life of an already born person. = We are=20 left with the question of whether research is considered the saving of a = life.=20 This argument becomes even more appealing if concrete life-saving = medical=20 treatments can be demonstrated.

For these as well as many other reasons, many contemporary halachic = decisors=20 have ruled that the destruction of preexisting pre-embryos for stem cell = research is permitted (see my more extensive article on stem cell = research and=20 Jewish Law at: http://www.jlaw.co= m/Articles/stemcellres.html)

CHEAPENING THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE

Nevertheless, many Rabbis oppose the deliberate creation of = pre-embryos for=20 the purpose of their destruction, as this would cheapen the value of = human=20 life.

The halachic process offers fascinating insight into all areas of = ethics,=20 including biomedical ethics. It gives us the opportunity to evaluate the = explosion of technology that surrounds us through the lens of the Torah, = insuring that we remain the masters of our science and not vice versa. = Judaism=20 has no issue with technology. It only requires the ethical and = responsible use=20 of science to better our lives. Let us pray that tomorrow, our patient = with=20 liver failure will be cured.

Published: Saturday, November 10, 2001 =
Hear=20 related audio on this topic.

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Visitor Comments: 85

(85) chris, April 30, 2010

for or against stem cell research

im am doing a doing a for or against stem cell research and i am = for it for=20 i have been saved by stem cell reasearch. for i had cancer at the age = of 13=20 and i am now the age of 16 and if it where not for stem cell reaserach = i would=20 not be hear rite now so for all of you that say it is unethical and = that it is=20 murder it is not for the fact the embryos are not even remotly human = untill=20 two weeks of age. and who ever embryo saved my life i ow my gratetud = to them=20 for the life that could have been later on saved mine.
(84) Laura, April 26, 2010

I'm also doing a research project on stem cells to either be for or = against=20 it.With all do respect, I differ with some of the people stating their = opinions. Stem cells are taken from the embryo. This situation does = affect=20 everyone in one way or another because one should understand cultual=20 diversity, and the many other confounding variables of taking stem = cells from=20 the "pre-embryo". Fact is, pre or post it's an embryo alright. =
(83) Chanan, April 12, 2010

Mulitpotential, nonembryonic adult stems cells =

BS"D Since 1995 I have been involved in research indicating that = adult,=20 pluripotent (multipotential) stem cells exist in the brain and can be = used for=20 regenerative applications to brain diseases and injuries. These are = not=20 embryonic stem cells; rather, they are cells naturally found in the = areas of=20 the brain involved in learning and memory. This presents a viable = alternative=20 to embryonic stem cells and its attendant controversy. Let's daven = that Hashem=20 will allow this work to yield therapeutic results for those who are = ill and=20 injured.
(82) Kevin, April 11, 2010

I understand both of your situation, but you have to remember that = all of=20 us at one point were an embryos what if you were one of the ones = developed to=20 be used as study. With a sucess rate of zero why are we wasting time = and money=20 we have other issues at hand. Also with the alturnitives there is no = need for=20 the research adult cells have more promise anyway. i understand ur = bias but=20 you have to think of the situation as a whole
(81) Briana, March 22, 2010

Ethical or Not

I'm 14 and doing a research semester project on stem cells. I = believe that=20 stem cell research is ethical because scientists are figuring out that = stem=20 cells may cure many diseases. Testing on embryos is not like = dissecting a=20 human that's alive. The embryo isnt even formed enough to wear it can = be=20 called a child. Im sorry if you don't feel the same way i do, but = everyone has=20 there own opinions. For the people who listen to others' info and take = their=20 advice on stem cell research; you need to do some research for = yourself and=20 decide on your own if this is unethical. Many people don't know what = stem cell=20 research is doing and learning so don't form opinions before you learn = a=20 little more about this debate.

(80) Anthony, March 18, 2010

I'm 14 years old, and I'm doing a big report on this for school, = which=20 makes up a major portion of my 2nd semester grade. I personally feel = this=20 controversial topic is ethical. I have a 20 year old brother, and he = suffers=20 from cerebral palsy. He is crippled in the hands, but he is a drummer = and=20 artist two things that mainly require the hands, and he is a prodigy, = he is=20 just amazing at what he does, and he deserves the right to working = hands, he=20 would only be better. It affects his life and he can never stop = thinking about=20 it. Sometimes when I was young I would here him cry and it would hurt = me so=20 bad. this made me want to pursue stem cell research as soon as a found = out=20 about it. Could you imagine making someone who was damaged from day = 1better=20 again? The only sacrifice would be a child thats not alive, so I think = these=20 religious people should have a little to think about, because I not = only want=20 him to have hands, everyone does. So I think this is very ethical. =
(79) Bernadette, March 12, 2010

Embryonic/stem

Even the tite is misrepresenting the topic. Stem cell research is = ethical=20 and moral. EMBRYONIC stem cell research is immoral and unethical, =
(78) SusanE, March 5, 2010

To Answer the Original Question.............

.No................ There should not be existing pre-embryos stored = outside=20 a womans body. To fertilize a human egg outside the body, IVF, is = acceptable=20 to me IF that one or two eggs are then transplanted into the woman to = begin=20 what can become a full term pregnancy. To have fertilized human eggs = stored=20 somewhere that will eventually be disposed of in ANY other way, is an = affront=20 to me. ------------------------- To use the stem cells from an early=20 spontaneous natural abortion would be something that could be = considered.=20 -------------------- It used to be that some of us lived a short life, = some of=20 us lived a long life. Either with or without disease. We still do. = That fact=20 hasn't changed. We should be eradicating the reasons we get diseases = like=20 cancer and heart disease and viruses. We are still going to die or get = disease=20 whether we get new organs or not. That's the way the world works.=20 ------------------ With a great respect for ethical medical research, = NO to=20 killing the embryos that shouldn't be in the labs in the first place.. =
(77) Claudia Carr, March 1, 2010

essential progess

Not only is stem cell research ethical, I believe it is essential = in order=20 to attempt to find the answers and potential cures to crippling = diseases which=20 strip patients of their dignity and hope. We should not be put off by = the=20 slippery slope arguments and trust in UK legilsation that permits such = research within tightly controlled boundaries.
(76) italia, February 26, 2010

i think that stem cell research is assisting the many who have = severe=20 ailments and wish to be cured which isint such abad thing as compared = to=20 abortion.those embryos are going to get disposed of anyway,might as = well just=20 use it for a rather meaningfull purpose.
(75) Beverly Kurtin, February 21, 2010

Why?

Why did Hashem give us the intelligence to extend life? So we = should ignore=20 it or kowtow to Christian sentiments who consider a clump of cells a = human=20 life? I'm personally revolted by the deliberate waste of pre-embryos = when they=20 could SAVE LIVES. I have a condition similar to Parkinson's. = Thankfully, it is=20 not life-threatening. But with the proper application of a few cells = could=20 cure the affliction. Surplus cells left over from IVF will die just as = certainly if they are used or not used, so why not use them for the = benefit of=20 human beings who are already alive but will die if the left overs are = just=20 flushed down the toilet like a dead goldfish? Feh!
(74) Azeem, December 13, 2009

Ban must be on usage not on research.

To put ban on embryonic stem cell research because scientists will = produce=20 chimeras, hybrids of human and animals I think it is not correct. = Because it=20 would be same as putting ban on usage of atomic energy as it could be = used in=20 making an atom bomb. Now atomic energy has been used in power = generation,=20 medical, agriculture and bio-technology. As there is a worldwide ban = on making=20 atom bomb but not on using atomic energy, in same way there should be = ban on=20 usage of embryonic stem cells like formation of chimeras, hybrids of = animals=20 and human. Regarding next concern on destroying human embryo for the = purpose=20 of research is same as putting ban on creation of these embryos in = infertility=20 clinics. As these extra created embryos must be dying on one or = another day.=20 Instead of destroying, these can be used in stem cell research for the = treatment of debilitating diseases.
(73) Kepha and Miryam ben Ephraim, December 6, = 2009

When does a human embryo become a human?

We are struggling with such things as stem cell research. When does = a human=20 embryo become a human. Does our Father not say that before He formed = us in our=20 mothers womb that He knew us? How far does man go before he encroaches = on that=20 which God Himself should have absolute authority? We feel that maybe = we humans=20 are building towers of Babel rather than seeking Him first.
(72) karol Delmar, May 19, 2009

Embtyonic stem cell research

We have to look even farther ahead. What is permitted today opens = the way=20 for what will be permitted tomorrow. Already scientists are trying to = make=20 chimeras, human animal hybrids, an unimaginable source of evil in the = future.=20 These cells are their raw material. Science says what we can or could = do, but=20 it does say what is ethical to do. Adult stem cells have already been = used=20 successfully, and have the wonderful advantage of not being rejected = by the=20 body, if they are taken from the same person. This avoids the = horrifying=20 possibility of humans being farmed for their parts, humans of no value = because=20 they were raised from throwaway cells. You will say that this is not = ethical,=20 but it will surely happen if we don't put the brakes on now.
(71) Sarah, April 19, 2009

To Savannah - - - - -

Savannah, I do not agree with your statement. The seed carries = life. It=20 just needs a little support to help it get going just like an embryo. = You're=20 pretty much saying that a sixth month old isn't a person because it = can't feed=20 and change itself.
(70) Joe, March 19, 2009

In response to Elisheva

Dear Elisheva, I need to make a point about biology. The fetus does = not=20 magically develop into a baby without effort just left on it's own. I = am=20 surprised at your use of the word "ACTIVE" in capital letterss in your = response to me. While a pregnant woman does not do any of the the = things she=20 does for the fetus consciously, she is most certainly very actively = providing=20 for the fetus every minute. She breathes for it, eats for it, digests = for it,=20 processes it's metabolic waste, and provides a protection from the = outside=20 world with her own body. It iakes a lot out of her and is a tremendous = expenditure of energy on her part. Any mother will tell you this is = so. She is=20 most certainly extremely active. She is not just an incubator. The = fact of the=20 matter is that if she stopped doing any of these things, the fetus = would die.=20 Now, I am not saying that implantaion is completely irrelevant. I am = saying=20 that if the standard is viability, it is not consistent with the other = argument posed by the author. Further, all of this specualtion about = the=20 future is not the way that halacha works. We judge in the present. = Consider=20 Ishmael. Why did Hashem rescue him in the wilderness? He knew that = Ishmael was=20 going to grow up to be unpleasant and that his descendents would cause = a great=20 deal of problems for the house of Israel. What does the tradition tell = us?=20 While Hagar was busy crying that Ishmael might perish, Ishmael did = Tsuva - and=20 here is the important point - and Hashem judged Ishmael *as he was = then*. Much=20 rabbinic ink has been spilled over this point about the way judgement = gets=20 done. So, to carry that through, what is the zygote in the present? = What is=20 the embryo in the present? What is a baby about to be born in the = present? The=20 important question, once again is which is a full fledged person? All = other=20 questions - as far as halacha is concerned- are secondary.
(69) Elisheva, March 18, 2009

Response to Joe

Joe, interesting thoughts. However, I think the point about the = zygote in=20 the test tube vs inside the mother was just that if the zygote were = left alone=20 inside the mother, nothing need be done ACTIVELY to end up with a live = baby.=20 (Prenatal care is necessary in this day and age, but it is certainly = possible=20 to have a child without it!) On the other hand, if a zygote is left = alone in a=20 test tube, it cannot possibly grow into a viable baby. Of course, if = you=20 remove the 1 month old embryo from the womb, it will die. But the = point, as I=20 understand it, is that the implanted zygote has the potential without = any=20 human intervention to grow into a live being, whereas the test tube = zygote=20 does not.
(68) Joe, March 17, 2009

In response to Avram

I appriciate your response, but I believe you missed my point. What = matters=20 is that the halacha are consistent with each other. The reason why the = moment=20 of personhood is so important is very simple, before personhood is = reached you=20 are not killing a person, afterwards you are. Honestly all other = questions a=20 secondary to establishing this point. If you are not killing a person, = then=20 the injunction to live by Torah and not die by it takes a very strong = position=20 in order to save lives. If you are, then you have a totally different = case. As=20 to the issue, we need to look at the significance of 40 days vs. = heartbeat. I=20 was very surprised that the article did not go into this. Now as to = the cases=20 you have brought up: 1. We have no time travelers. If we did, your = analogy=20 would still be faulty. It is based on the assumption that the embryo = will grow=20 up to be a sweet person. Jack the Ripper was an embryo too at one = point. I am=20 actually not trying to be too flippant here with that analogy either. = In a=20 very deep sense, we are not the ones to judge. We can only follow the = mitzvot=20 of the Judge. Perhaps the embryo that would have been the next Jack = the Ripper=20 now saves lives... 2. As to preventing future human life, there is the = rub -=20 future is not present. If a pregnant woman is injured and miscarries, = is the=20 offending party charged with murder? The answer is no. By your = reasoning it=20 should be yes.
(67) Michelle J., March 15, 2009

Cord Blood and embryos

Firstly, to address the point of using umbilical cord blood stem = cells in=20 lieu of embryonic stem cells, cord blood stem cells only yield blood = cells.=20 While this has been used successfully to produce blood cells, this = cannot be=20 used to help our poor liver patient. The benefit of embryonic stem = cells lies=20 in the fact that they are pluripotent, undifferentiated cells, which = have the=20 potential to produce any type of cell, provided certain factors are=20 manipulated. The potential is immense. Thus far, the limited research=20 conducted with embryonic stem cells has not had success, but this is = not=20 sufficient reason to write it off. The potential is there, and with = more=20 research, amazing things may yet come from it. As for the ethical = concerns of=20 experimenting on embryos, these are embryos that have been produced = through=20 IVF methods, but have not been implanted, nor are they going to be = implanted.=20 They are sitting in a freezer because they cannot be left to die = (which is=20 what would happen if left alone), but they are also not to be = implanted. These=20 embryos are in "limbo" so to speak. The ethical concern seems to lie = more in=20 the first formation of these embryos that were not implanted, rather = than in=20 their use for research. Should they remain in the freezer = indefinitely? If the=20 potential to save lives exists, this does not seem to be a good = choice.=20
(66) Savannah, March 14, 2009

Stem Cells

I am not a doctor nor a member of any medical community, my opinion = is a=20 stem cell is like a seed. Until it is planted it has no life, no = branches, no=20 leaves, no life giving properties. A stem cell is given life when it = becomes a=20 part of that human being regardless of where you planet it.
(65) Avram, March 13, 2009

RE: #60 Joe

Joe, I think the "ikar" of the ruling of the zygote in the test = tube vs.=20 the zygote implanted in a woman is in the phrase "left undisturbed." = There=20 most certainly is a difference between an embryo left undisturbed = while=20 implanted in a womb and an embryo left undisturbed outside of that=20 environment. You declare anything other than defining the moment that = the=20 zygote/embryo/fetus attains "human" status as a waste of time. I = disagree.=20 Judaism works in every dimension, including time. Therefore, its = answers may=20 seem like pretzel logic to someone only looking at a temporal = snapshot. Here's=20 a question: If you walk past a large plank, and standing next to the = plank is=20 a time traveler who says, "thank G-d that plank is sitting right where = it is,=20 because in two days there will be a flash flood and a child swept up = by the=20 water will be saved by grabbing onto this plank." From an ethical = standpoint,=20 if you then went and removed the plank, wouldn't that be wrong? You're = not=20 actually killing a person, but you are taking an action that will = prevent a=20 life from being saved in the future. Similarly, if you remove an = embryo that=20 is implanted in a woman, you may not actually be destroying a "human" = in the=20 process--whether you are or not is beyond my pay grade--but you are = taking an=20 action that will prevent a future life. Isn't that wrong?
(64) Linda Wolfe, March 13, 2009

EMBRYONIC stem cell research

It is my understanding that until this very day there has been no = embryonic=20 stem cells that have grown into usable tissue. Thus far, all of the = cells have=20 resulted in cancer. All of them. On the other hand, umbilical chord = stem cells=20 and adult stem cells have had some very promising results. The news = media has=20 been very thoroughly overlooking this fact. If we would simply follow = the=20 areas of research that have shown the most promise, embryonic stem = cells=20 wouldn't have to be used and this would be a mute point.
(63) Tova saul, March 13, 2009

Thanks

Thank you. I've been curious about this, and now I know the answer = and the=20 logic behind it.
(62) Chandler, March 12, 2009

Ethics

I question the validity of what is defined as a "complete human = being". If=20 a new born baby is smaller and lessed developed does that make it a = "less=20 complete human being"?..or is it just at a different stage of life. = The next=20 question is who is competent enough to define that? In a situation = where the=20 mother must chose between the life of her unborn child and possibly = her=20 own..it is exactly that "her choice". Just as any parent would have to = make a=20 choice to save their childs life knowing that they will in turn loose = their=20 own. It's my belief that as soon as the egg has been fertilized the = human=20 "divine" spark has been ignited.
(61) Jeannette Zipes, March 12, 2009

Agree with some

No way can you take any life that G-d had a hand on.They are using = Adult=20 Stm cell and are finding out it works so why use destroy a life and = choose who=20 gets well. Leave G-d plan alon . i agree with the Rabbi's who honour = life. G-d=20 Bless you and let us keep praying and be able to confornt evil even if = it is=20 convient to be a god.
(60) Joe, March 12, 2009

There were bits in this article where a little more science = needs=20 to be applied.

Let's start from some first principles. A zygote does not have a = human=20 heart, because it does not yet have a heart. A zygote does not have a = human=20 mind because it does not yet have a brain. The real, and only = important=20 question, which this article does not adress, is at what stage of = development=20 does a collection of cells that has human features recognizable only = to a=20 genetic analysis stop being a collection of cells and start being a = human=20 being? That is the real question. All else is a waste of time. The = rational=20 that a zygote takes a different status once implanted is interesting, = but on=20 the basis of viability (as presented here) is not logical. A zygote in = the=20 test tube would indeed die on its own -so would a one month old embryo = if=20 removed from the womb. No present technolgy could save it. Therefore, = if=20 viability is the standard, then there should be no issue with an = implanted=20 embryo either. It is implied by this article that Torah would consider = the=20 implanted zygote to be a full fledged human. Again, it has no heart = and it has=20 no brain. I am bringing up heart and brain purposefully, because of = the=20 halachic significance of when when we consider someone dead. One might = argue=20 that if one does not have the equipment to be considered alive, = (halachicly)=20 then one might be in a different halachic state than a viable human = with a=20 heart and mind. I am not trying to get into a deep halachic argument = per se.=20 However, I do want consistency in what I am told is halacha. I am = absolutely=20 glad that the rabbinate is interested in using science to save lives - = and=20 thus permits the notion of stem cell research. However, as a = scientist, I=20 sometimes cringe at rabbinic pretzels that overlook clear application = of=20 scientific principles in favor of of fitting a square scientific peg = into a=20 round halachic hole.
(59) Esther, March 12, 2009

This article presents too narrow a view of Orthodoxy's = allowance of=20 abortion.

Dr. Eisenberg muddies the waters when he writes that once a fetus = is=20 partially-born it is considered a person and one may not abort it even = to save=20 the life of its mother. But luckily, a situation like this almost = never=20 arises. In reality, those rare situations in which a woman's health is = compromised by being pregnant usually arise well before the moment of = actual=20 birth. Jewish law not only permits but mandates abortion when a = pregancy=20 threatens a woman's health. He also doesn't state strongly enough that = IVF and=20 stem cell research ARE allowed by Orthodox Jewish authorities (in the = case of=20 IVF usually with supervision from a religious expert). This is a = fascinating=20 and well-written article, but I don't want readers to come away with a = false=20 impression that Judaism is equivocal on these matters.
(58) Simcha Mendel Freedman, March 11, 2009

STEM CELL RESEARCH IS PERMITTED

I saw a very reliable interview with a man who worked in the = scientific=20 field. Many years ago, he met with the Lubavitcher Rebbe. In their = discussion,=20 the Rebbe asked him why they are not doing stem cell research. The = Rebbe spoke=20 very highly of stem cell research.
(57) Chaya K., March 11, 2009

Masters of creation...?

What I am actually more worried about is, whether as Jews and as = humans it=20 is allowed for us to "create" human organs, parts of humans and = whether itis=20 "unfortunataly", as stated in the text, or luckily that we have no = idea for=20 now how to clone humans. Isn't G-d the third partner in the creation = of a new=20 person?... And isn't life and death the way they are and their = occurance the=20 way they have to be due to Heaven's decision?....
(56) Chana, March 11, 2009

Umbilical cord stem cells can be used with no threat of life to = mother or=20 child
(55) Thomas Beck, March 11, 2009

Embryos not created to be destroyed

I would not support creating "pre-embryos" merely for the sake of = research.=20 But most come from fertility treatments and are going to be destroyed = anyway.=20 They exist already - we should be permitted to use them for research = that may=20 save lives in the future.
(54) Keith C, March 11, 2009

There is no justification

Jeremiah 1:5 states "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.." = These so=20 called PRE-EMBRYOS are known by G-d. Just because man took the eggs = out of the=20 mother and fertilized them outside the womb doen't mean they are not = known by=20 G-d. There is NO justifiable excuse that these innocent existing = babies can be=20 destroyed to provide possible future cures for people.
(53) Anonymous, December 15, 2008

Read the whole thing..

..and thank you so much! This helped me greatly on my social issues = artwork.
(52) aanchal, November 23, 2008

thanks! it helped me to prepare my assignment on stem cells-ethical = concerns
(51) Masha, February 28, 2008

Helped me lots

Thanks for this. This helped me on my Stem Cell research people, = opposing=20 viewpoints.

I greatly appreciate = this.

Thanks.

-Masha=20
(50) Sam, January 17, 2008

well done info

ive read alot on stem cell research and you only get bits and parts = of it=20 this site has by far coverd the issues that most people have wonderd, = thank=20 you this will help me a lot in my schooling
(49) DreaaBaby, January 6, 2008

Wow. I actually bothered to read the entire page. =

I loved the insight on some other cultures religions. Very=20 interesting.
(48) bob, October 24, 2007

I LOVE THIS

this is good info. LOVE IT
(47) Power-Puff Girl, October 20, 2007

Best Ethical Article

This is a very comprehensive and informative article. I am glad to = say that=20 you have enlightened me and informed me of the ethical issues = surrounding stem=20 cell research. This article has also made me think about where i stand = in this=20 ethical debate and what i believe to be right. Thankyou very much for = this=20 thought provoking article!
(46) mariel, April 18, 2007

thanks

this artical really benefited me ; i'm giving a speech over stem = cell=20 research and your article enabled me to understand everything in = detail.keep=20 up the good work!
(45) Anonymous, March 29, 2007

Use for the info

i really liked this article, it explained to me a ton of things i = did not=20 understand!!! But my question is if i could use some of this = information for=20 the debate im doing (i know everything about the piracy stuff, thats = why i=20 need to ask) Well e-mail me so i can find out.

just to be sure = that i=20 wont copy, paste anything, ill tell u that im in 8h=20 grade.

thnx
diego
(44) iftekhar, August 12, 2006

very comprehensive material

i liked your materials.please mail me more history of research , = ethical=20 issues ,potential uses of stem cells regarding the topic.
(43) Manasseh, September 27, 2005

Pre-Embryo cells - The demand is so great

I think that for medical science to advance, research should be = allowed on=20 pre-embryo cells. Hashem would not have allowed it if He didn't think = it would=20 have helped the millions of people who need this life saving = treatment. Think=20 about it. When you look at the virus, what do you see? A one cell = wonder.=20
Very tiny. Almost useless except for one thing. This thing is = alive. So=20 for the pre-embryo cells.
In the past, research used to be = restricted to=20 things that we can see, hear, and experiment with.
Now, we have = this=20 ability to research the tiniest organisms. I am all for it because of = its=20 ability to cure people with diseases known to kill many more people.=20
Pre-embryo cells are not people who need to be kept alive simply = because=20 they are and should be considered cells with one redeeming power. That = is the=20 power to cure other people. Hashem would not have allowed this to = continue if=20 the researchers are destroying the cells with impunity. Why are we so = afraid=20 of using them for the benefit of humanity? The suffering is = tremendous. We=20 should be using this powerful miracle to save more lives.
Thank = you.=20
(42) Toshi Shimada, April 26, 2005

The big question

Hi. I think I agree with the comments and discussions that you have = made in=20 this web page. I personally believe that the big question to consider, = is=20 whether or not a pre-embryo can be considered 'a human life'. It is = indeed a=20 'life', but you could debate on and on about whether it is morally = correct to=20 destroy a life to save one. Thus, the question to be raised is; how = could you=20 consider a pre-embryo a human life, before it has even moved on to the = natural=20 stage in life within the mother's womb?
(41) kevin brennan, January 31, 2005

thank you so much

my name is kevin brennan and I am a student at Mc Clintoch high = school in=20 Tempe Arizona. in biology my class is curently holding a debate = reguarding the=20 m,oral and ethical issues of stem cell reaserch. several points that i = have=20 made in this debate have gone unnoticed because i simply did not have = a=20 source. but I have found them heere and when the information came from = an MD=20 then people listened and we won the first two days because of it. = Thank you=20 sir.
(40) Anonymous, January 15, 2005

Interesting

I liked this article. I always wondered what the Torah's take on = stem-cell=20 research was. Now I know!
(39) nurina, January 4, 2005

Useful

useful links for a student who needs research on ethical issues on = stem=20 cell research
(38) Karen, December 3, 2004

liked the site

this web site helped me a lot when I was doing a research on = ethical issues=20 on stem cell research
(37) leo, November 16, 2004

fascinating

very interesting article. I was wondering about this myself and am = happy to=20 learn the Jewish take on it.
(36) CHAYA, October 31, 2004

REALITY

It is always good to philosophise about topics such as these , and = having=20 the luxury of beeing righteous .

But when you are 25 on a = transplant=20 list and wont know if you will make it , everything becomes much more=20 realistic.

I would like to bring to people's attention that in = the=20 late 90's there was a popular drug prescribed to teenagers that would = help=20 them , given by dermatologists . Today it is a known fact that it = destroyed=20 many young lives , and damaged their vital organs .

Having a=20 transplant is not a walk in the park , that is if you are lucky to = have one .=20 Secondly the medications that have to be taken slowly begin to do = their damage=20 .

Stem cell research could lead to the ability of growing = organs that=20 would belong to the person , there would be no rejection , or = medications .=20

People have a full right to save their lives , especially when = they=20 suffered at the hands of the greedy pharmaceutical industry .=20
(35) Earl Litz, October 25, 2004

stem cell research

From what Dr. Eisenberg has shared with us, I remained unsure what = G-d=20 would require in this matter. Isaiah told us that G-d knew us in the = womb, but=20 I'm sure Isaiah never envisioned what technicalites would be created = through=20 modern science. At this point, personally, I am against tampering with = what=20 G-d has created.
(34) Eliezer, October 24, 2004

Response to Mr.White's point

In response to John White's objection that humans might become = slaves if we=20 are able to grow pre-embryos for 9 months with machines - if you read = the=20 article's wording carefully you'll see it says:

"[...] But the = pre-embryo created by IVF, if left untouched in its 'test tube,' will = die. The=20 pre-embryo requires active intervention to even reach a situation = which we=20 consider to be true potential life. "

Now if we ever reach a = situation=20 where an embryo that's left untouched will not die but will indeed = develop=20 into a human (through the use of machines, etc.), then yes - such an = embryo=20 should be considered a potential life and can not be used for = research. But=20 until it is placed in that situation [being hooked up to a machine, = being=20 placed in an incubator, etc.] where if left untouched it will = automatically=20 develop into a human, it is an entity that will die if left on its = own.=20 According to the article's logic, this would be a reason to allow its=20 destruction through research.
(33) Miryam, October 22, 2004

Hum!!!

Who are we to say if a preembyo may become an embryo or not? isn't = that=20 like trying to play the role of G-d? What about the umbilical cords = that are=20 left after a baby is born? aren't those cords disposed? why can't we = use the=20 stem cells of an umbilical cord left over after the birth of a child = for this=20 kind of research? some people choose to have the umbilical cord frozen = in a=20 cord bank but not everyone chooses that because is so expensive, so = why can't=20 we use those stem cells to do this research? why destroy another life = when we=20 can use the stem cells of left over umbilical cords without destroying = another=20 life Dr. Eisenberg? or are you going to tell me this cannot be done = when these=20 stem cells obtained from frozen umbilical cords have been used to cure = people=20 with some forms of cancer and other illnesses.
(32) Dwayne Jones, October 21, 2004

An abundant source of Stem Cells

From what I understand only Adult Stem Cells are used in treatment. = Embryonic Stem Cells are not safe to use because they have caused = tumors and=20 their development into an undesired type of cell is extremely = unpredictable.=20

On the other hand, what if there was a way through natural = nutrition=20 (Hashem's provision of food) for a person's body to produce an = abundance of=20 Stem Cells within their own body ?

This has been observed in = FAS=20 children and Type I Diabetes people to name a few. Stem cells can also = migrate=20 to the brain to become new brain cells. (JAMA Feb 19, 2003) =

The=20 abundance of Stem Cells produced internally is enabled by the = availability of=20 a new category of necessary nutrition called glyconutrients, specific=20 carbohydrates that are not used for energy.

Research with=20 glycoproteins is exploding. I suggest researching PubMed, the Library = for NIH.=20 There are over 400,000 articles on this and related topics. MIT = Technology=20 Review magazine has stated that this discovery will change the world.=20

Perhaps this offers hope to many who can not afford or do not = agree=20 with operations involving Stem Cells from other sources.
(31) Dr. Jose Nigrin, October 19, 2004

killling embryos for life?

The stem cell research is still, in the category of achieving the = formation=20 of tissue organs, for transplantation. Until this becomes a reality, = and=20 practical cure, we can regard this as an unethical way of = experimentation,=20 without unknown results. We have to give the stem cell research the = benefit of=20 the doubt, and go ahead, but accepting the fact of killing a potential = life in=20 formation.
(30) Miriam, Pittsburgh, PA, October 19, 2004 =

Partial-Birth Abortion, Exactly what does this = mean?

What exactly is partial-birth abortion? Does that mean part of the = baby has=20 already emerged and therefore an abortion cannot be performed at that = time to=20 save the mother's life?
(29) Anonymous, October 19, 2004

Thank you

I knew I could count on Aish.com to take a complicated raging = contemporary=20 issue and make it understandable, meaningful and relevant from a = Jewish=20 perspective. Thank you!
(28) Anonymous, October 19, 2004

Dr. Eisenberg:

What a sensible discussion of a very = difficult and=20 yet crucially important series of complex medical issues confronting = those of=20 us in health care and those without.

You presented a splendid = series=20 of logical arguements regarding the potential involved in the = circumstances=20 for both good and the obverse results inherent in unchecked or = unethical=20 experimentation.

Compelling and cogent.
(27) Daniel Eisenberg, MD, October 19, 2004

The question is not when life begins

Mr. White raises a very important issue regarding the term = "pre-embryo."=20 Too often, euphemistic terms are used to obscure the ethical = significance of=20 patently unethical actions. But, from a Jewish perspective, the = terminology of=20 pre-embryo is irrelevant and is only used because it describes the = time after=20 in vitro fertilization is performed and before the placement of the = embryo in=20 the uterus.
The question from a halachic perspective is NOT "when = does=20 life begin," but "when does HALACHICALLY PROTECTED life begin." That = is,=20 potential life of the human being begins before conception, in the = form of the=20 sperm and the egg. Put another way, if I could potentially take a cell = from=20 the inside of someone's mouth and clone a person from it, is every = mucosal=20 cell a "potential life," deserving legistative protection? Surely not! =
The=20 opinions brought in my stem cell article merely argue that these = "pre-embryos"=20 are not covered by the Biblical prohibition of murder. This does not = in any=20 way minimize the status of the pre-embryo. They are potential lives = and since=20 the there is not unanimity regarding the stem cell research question, = it is=20 best to err on the side of caution and not create these pre-embryos = merely to=20 be destroyed. But, once they are created as part of the in vitro = fertilization=20 process, then we must go after the great decisors of Jewish law, = several of=20 whom have allowed the destruction of pre-embryos.
(26) Don Gambill, October 18, 2004

That which is right in our own eyes

It is amazing what we can rationalize in our own minds in order to = soothe=20 our consciences. My question is this, where will it end? If you allow = research=20 on the IVF "leftovers" what happens when the scientific community = comes back=20 and says that the sample isn't large enough, or that in order to = procede they=20 need samples from a broader cross section of society? What will be the = next=20 line we cross? Will the industry then pay for eggs and sperm in order = to mass=20 produce the quantity and genetic sampling needed? Where will it end? =
And=20 the serpent said, "...your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as = gods..."=20
(25) Jon White, October 18, 2004

Idea of 'pre-embryo' invented for political reasons = only=20

To paraphrase a bioethicist teaching at a major university: The = term=20 pre-embryo is used carelessly as is the concept fertilized ovules. =
In=20 fact, the term 'pre-embryo' has had very little to do with scientific = rigor=20 since its appearance.
It was coined in 1979 by embryologist = Clifford=20 Grobstein, a specialist in the study of frogs, who admitted that in = this way=20 he wanted to 'reduce the status of the early human embryo'.
At = that time,=20 the birth of the first test-tube baby, Louise Brown in 1978 caused a=20 proliferation of centers of in vitro fertilization.
Because of = this, the=20 then U.S. secretary of health, Joseph Califano, arousing ethical = concerns=20 about what was presented as human experimentation, called publicly for = research on the early human embryo.
Then, Grobstein tried to = resolve the=20 concerns by declaring the early human embryo a 'pre-embryo,' namely, a = non-person. (We should remember that, in the recent past, millions of = Jewish=20 persons suffered horrendously when burdened with the same libelous=20 'non-person' label.)
Subsequently the term was used in two = important=20 international venues: the Warnock Commission in Great Britain, = directed to=20 establishing the licit realms of human experimentation and techniques = of=20 assisted reproduction, and the Ethical Committee of the American = Society for=20 Fertility, of which Grobstein himself was a member.
Then, the = scientific=20 literature, both the specialized as well as the popular, appropriated = the=20 term, which soon became a most useful persuasive instrument of public = opinion=20 on the ethical innocuousness of embryonic manipulation.
In fact, = in all=20 the documents favorable to manipulation of the 'pre-embryo,' one can = identify=20 some criteria that justified its distinction from the 'real embryo,' = which=20 would appear magically on the 14th day of life and after.
Such = criteria=20 were based on the observation according to which around the 14th day = of life=20 some substantial novelties would occur in the development of the tiny = human,=20 such as the completion of implantation in the maternal womb, initiated = around=20 the fifth, sixth day after conception, or the increase of cellular=20 differentiation.
But, in reality, biological research itself has=20 established with certainty that such 'progress' in embryonic = development does=20 not represent substantial novelties, but is part of the uninterrupted=20 evolution of the organism from the first instant, the fertilization, = until the=20 last, the person's death.
From the moment of fertilization and = after, the=20 human being has some fixed biological properties: coordination -- = namely, the=20 fact of presenting a functionally organized unit according to an = established=20 object and autonomously pursued by the organism's genetic program; = gradualness=20 -- namely, the progressive constitution through different phases of=20 development of the final form of the individual, according to his own=20 identity, individuality and uniqueness.
These arguments have met = with=20 broad consensus in the scientific community, to the almost total = prohibition=20 of the ambiguous expression.
Yet, in recent years, the attempts at = massive=20 distribution of the morning-after pill on one hand, and the interest = in=20 furthering research with embryonic stem cells on the other, have=20 re-established the old debate on the human individuality of the early = embryo,=20 this time not strictly at the scientific level, but cultural and = political as=20 well.
In other words, we are before a great and conscious lie. =
As C.W.=20 Kisher states: The so-called pre-embryo is a false stage of human = development=20 invented by an amphibian embryologist for political reasons only. It = has no=20 credible scientific justification. Thus, the inclusion of this term = into the=20 language of human embryology has become a hoax of gigantic proportion. =
(24) Debby Parent, October 17, 2004

Excellent Article

This has made many things clearer to me and our family is going = through a=20 medical situation now. One life will not be put in danger to help = another,=20 only to give the other life. I feel more comfortable.
(23) Elisa, October 17, 2004

Very good article, it really opened my eyes about this complicated = subject.=20
(22) Morry Levin, October 17, 2004

Thanks for the article. It helped clear and my confusion over stem = cell=20 research.
(21) John D. Miller, October 17, 2004

Great article!

Thanks indeed for such a well written article that even I can = understand!=20
(20) Anonymous, October 17, 2004

This email gave me much needed information

Thank you for this information.
(19) gabriello marchetti, August 2, 2004

great!

This is a great point of view, where jewish ethicism,Torah, and = humanism=20
(scientiphic research and progress)are togheter for human life = .Great!=20
(18) Rabbi Krustolzky, July 27, 2004

We cannot play God

God has put us on the earth to enjoy life, in all its pain. To do = such=20 things is to insult the processes he has put in place and make our = value much=20 less.
(17) JESSICA KELLY, January 12, 2004

THANK YOU THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE PROVIDED ME WITH HAS BEEN VERY = HELPFUL=20 TO ME EXPECIALLY IN MRS.BOWMANS CLASS
(16) Billy the Kid, December 11, 2002

Stem Cells are good

How can we judge the destruction of something does not yet = completely exist=20 as bad. If these have the potential to cure devastating diseases and = save live=20 why are we even arguing. The debate should be no more magnified than = that of=20 abortion. To create stem cells you destroy the fetus, just as you do = when you=20 have an abortion, and the fetus is not a human. I personally value a = human=20 over something that is not yet A HUMAN
(15) Anonymous, November 5, 2002

I needed this exact information for a term paper. Thank you so = much!=20
(14) miguel sanchez, May 13, 2002

your website gave me so much great info thankyou very much! =
(13) marcia cooperman, November 18, 2001

excellent article

the article gave me information which i wanted regarding the jewish = view of=20 stem cells & stem cell research.
(12) Gloria Filkoff, November 17, 2001

It seems that if the present supply of pre-embryos is going to die = on its=20 own or be destroyed because their owners no longer need or want them, = then=20 they absolutely should be used to restore the health of living = persons.=20
(11) Janet Miller, November 17, 2001

Blessed are you G-d master of life and death.

I agree with the person who believes that life should not be = conceived in a=20 test tube and with the person who favors research with cord blood. = What ever=20 happened to the part of the AMIDAH that states "Baruch atah adonai = m'chaye=20 b'hameytim"? It is my belief that G-d alone should decide who = conceives and=20 who does not. If my genetic material is meant to be passed along to = another=20 individual, it will happen in the natural manner. If potential parents = were as=20 selfless as some claim to be, in the case of infertility, they would = at least=20 try to adopt. There are couples at my synagogue who have adopted = foreign born=20 and hard to place children.
Is there no more to Judaism anymore = than the=20 mitzvah of pru'urvu? I have known personally women who have been = 'treated' by=20 IVF--one who had an apple shaped body type which, at best, is a body = with=20 hormonal imbalance; one who smoked cigarettes and sat on abdominal = pain which=20 turned out to be gallbladder disease and was over 35 at the time--you = get the=20 picture. Isn't respect for human life or knowledge of the identity of = the=20 baby's father also part of Jewish teaching (if an anonymous sperm = donor is=20 used, it is very hard to break this anonymity)? I believe IVF itself = is wrong.=20 Therefore, I am against stem cell research from embryos, but not with = adult=20 stem cells or cord blood.
(10) Anonymous, November 14, 2001

"Excellent appraisal of halachic issue"

I've been looking and waiting for a clear explanation of the = halachic=20 issues surrounding stem cell research. Thanks for the effort. =
(9) margie eisenberg, November 14, 2001

All medical procedures were new once.......

Excellent article....while stem cell research is new, it offers = great hope=20 in the saving of lives....you say: "thanks to Caesarian = sections."...I'm sure=20 there was plenty of controversy surrounding that too in the = beginning...God=20 has given us all we need..we just need to LOOK harder!!
(8) Anonymous, November 13, 2001

"test-tube babies"

In response to the reader who said "We should not be playing around = with=20 conception via tubes" - Great torah leaders urge us to use all the = technology=20 available for help with infertility problems. Having a baby through = IVF is=20 also a direct blessing from G-d. Infertility problems is comparable to = any=20 other medical problem. When you are sick, you go to the doctor. You = don't sit=20 at home waiting for heaven to heal you - you have to do your part, and = G-d=20 will do His. There are many beautiful Jewish children born using IVF.=20
(7) John White, November 13, 2001

Your Reasoning Could Lead to Human Slavery...

Your reasoning in the article "Is Stem Cell Research Ethical?" will = lead to=20 acceptance of human slavery when science is able to keep the = "pre-embryo"=20 alive and growing for 9 months with machines and without implantation = into a=20 woman. At that point, a living creature appearing to be a fully-formed = human=20 baby would exist. But this creature would not be a human being = according to=20 the Jewish law you quoted in your article, because the creature would = not have=20 emerged in any way from a woman's body. Hence, it would have no human = rights,=20 and therefore could be used by its owner as a permanent creature of = servitude=20 (slave.) This ugly conclusion shows (I hope) the fallaciousness of = your=20 argument. In your article, you even referred to the fetus prior to = emergence=20 during birth as a "baby" (which is accurate). The problem here is = caused by=20 the adult humans' postulating an arbitrary point in the continuum of = human=20 life prior to which it is not human and after which it is human. The=20 fundamental reality is that it's a human being from conception, with a = its own=20 human DNA sequence. Treat the pre-embryonic human being with the = respect due=20 it, and the concept of human life will be that much less easily = cheapened by=20 those worshipping the god whose name is "Usefullness."
(6) , November 12, 2001

What if we do not need stem cell research and alike? There are = alternatives=20 as natural hygiene etc. that helped me personally to avoid loosing my = uterus.=20 Many illnesses are the result of bad eating habits and not a = misfortune. New=20 treatments are not looking for the real causes (new treatments pay = better).=20 Baruch HaShem, I learned about these alternatives in time, so I do not = have to=20 live my life without children.

Besides, hospitals often create = the=20 complications that lead too often to Caesarian sections.

There = are now=20 many interesting web sites, e.g. about natural hygiene, unassisted = birth=20 etc... they are worth to take notice of.

Shalom from Israel =
(5) Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Very, very intersting!!! Thanks!

It is interesting to view the Torah perspective on new technology.=20
(4) Lin Pyles, November 12, 2001

embryo's to save life

Why is this an issue at all? We should not be playing around with=20 conception via tubes to begin with. I think HaShem made it very clear = that He=20 would bless us with children. Throughout Tanakh He opened and closed = wombs.=20 Sara took having a child into her own hands and convinced Avraham to = concieve=20 through Hagar. Ishmael, to this day, is still a thorn in his brother's = side.=20 Perhaps if we were not playing around with test tube babies the issue = you=20 discussed would be a non issue.
(3) Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Other options

What about using the stem cell is cord blood (blood from the = umbilical cord=20 attached to the placenta)? I know they use this with certain types of = cancer=20 patients with good results. This does not risk the life of a pre-born = child.=20 This utilizes something that is usually just discarded. I have much = less of an=20 ethical issue with this type of research.

I am very concerned = when we=20 start to devalue any life. I look at our nation in despair. We've gone = from=20 abortion to save the mother's life to abortion for convenience and = birth=20 control. Now we are seeing more children abused and elderly abused. = Not even=20 to mention the push for the right to "euthanasia". Where will we stop? =
Only HaShem gives life. Who are we to try to control this gift? =
(2) Robbie Scott, November 12, 2001

I believe that life starts at the moment the egg and sperm are = united. A=20 reproductive scientist said he could always tell which embryos took, = because=20 there was a minute, brief flash of light that occured in the sucessful = ones.I=20 believe it better to be over cautious than not. Let Hashem decide if = the sick=20 person is to live or not.
(1) Anonymous, November 11, 2001

Stem Cell Research

Thank you very much for your thougtful comments. Although your = statement=20 about Burr/Hamilton is incorrect, your halachic insight was very = helpful.=20

See All Comments Add Comment

About the Author

Daniel Eisenberg, M.D.

Dr. Daniel Eisenberg is with the Department of = Radiology at the=20 Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA and an Assistant = Professor of=20 Diagnostic Imaging at Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine. He = has=20 taught a Jewish medical ethics class for the past 15 years. Dr. = Eisenberg writes=20 extensively on topics of Judaism and medicine and lectures = internationally on=20 topics in Jewish medical ethics to groups of all backgrounds. Obtain = more=20 information on scheduling a lecture or learning more about Jewish = medical ethics=20 by visiting Dr. Eisenberg at http://www.daneisenberg.com/

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