The Final Solution...or at least a proposed solution to this issue.

In a world in which embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) is a controversial subject, there are those who are in favor of it and those who are against it. The two sides in this issue can be defined biasedly as evil baby killers and those who are an obstacle to saving the lives of those who suffer. I will analyze this issue by eliminating the bias in these definitions and presenting a clear interpretation of both arguments.

When analyzing this issue, I need to answer the following questions: Why does each side believe the way they do? What is each side arguing for? How do they come to different conclusions? How do both sides contradict themselves?

First I will take a look at the "evil baby killers" aka those who are in favor of ESCR. The reasons someone on this side will give you if you ask them why they support it will be biased, but they must still be taken into account if you want to understand their argument. The supporters of ESCR believe that the potential benefits that ESCR has to offer in terms of treatments and cures for afflictions outweigh the costs involved. Some feel justified because they do not consider an embryo a human child while others justify their support of ESCR because while one life may be lost, thousands others may be improved and the cures to many afflictions may be discovered (many of my friends who support ESCR have given this response).

Those who are against ESCR often cite moral reasons. Many, who come from religious backgrounds, believe that human life begins at conception. They see the destruction of an embryo as murder as it denies a human of the chance at life. Others cite medical reasons for their opposition. It has been shown that embryonic stem cells develop chromosomal mutations that cause cancer. Also embryonic stem cells have yet to produce viable treatment options for humans. They would rather have more money and time devoted to adult stem cell research (ASCR), which are already used in treatments today. I asked some of my friends who are against ESCR why they feel the way they do, and one of them gave an extreme yet viable reason. She feels that if ESCR is allowed to continue that scientists will begin to push the envelope as to what is acceptable to do. If destroying an embryo is acceptable, then it will only be a matter of time before it is acceptable to destroy fetuses for stem cells. Her logic is flawed, but it is a possible, if extreme, scenario.

Each side, however, contradicts itself. ESCR has yet to produce viable treatments so its supporters are relying on it to do so, even though it may not in the future. We could wait years and devote millions of dollars to treatments that may never be perfected or be as effective as we hoped. Those who oppose it would feel differently if they or a loved one were very ill and could only be saved by a treatment involving embryonic stem cells, or if a miraculous cure were derived from embryonic stem cells. They also ignore the fact that new processes are being developed to harvest stem cells without destroying a fertilized embryo.

In regards to this issue, both sides are really fighting for the same thing: to save lives, but they differ in the way they go about it. The pro-ESCR group seeks to save the lives of the sick and afflicted by developing new treatments and cures. The anti-ESCR group seeks to save the lives of cells that will eventually grow into a child. Since both sides are fighting for the same thing, a solution is possible. I believe that both sides will be willing to accept continued ESCR if the government monitored the industry to ensure safety and quality. It just struck me, however, that this is more of a compromise, a lose-lose situation, than a solution. Pro-ESCRers won't be completely satisfied because they would have to answer to the government, while the anti crowd would lose because ESCR would be allowed to continue. I say we allow it to continue and see what comes of it. If nothing good comes of it, ESCR will probably fade away. If the reverse turns out to be true, then we end up with many wonderful cures and treatments to alleviate the suffering in the world. Only time and research will tell.