Term Paper on "Stem Cell Offer Unparalleled Potential to Alleviate"

Term Paper 4 pages (1320 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Stem cell offer unparalleled potential to alleviate problems associated with certain medical conditions because of their unique ability to self-multiply and turn into any specialized type of cell such as brain cell. Their use in medicine would seem uncontroversial except for the fact that the stem cells with the most promise for medicine are derived from embryos. Embryonic stem cells are, however, grown and harvested in a clinical laboratory and not in a woman's body. Their use poses no real ethical problem except for a small portion of the population that opposes their use. Reasons for opposing the use of stem cells for medical research and treatment centers on the fact that the simplest way to harvest the cells is by destroying the embryo. Yet the embryos used for stem cell research rarely have the opportunity to be used in artificial insemination and therefore would normally be discarded and therefore destroyed. Moreover, emerging medical research technologies preclude destroying the embryos from which stem cells are harvested.

However, opponents of stem cell research also claim that even if the in vitro embryo is not destroyed then stem cell research still comes dangerously close to cloning research and should be banned. Yet therapeutic cloning for stem cell research and cloning for the intent of creating a human being are two wholly different procedures. Creating stem cells for use in treating degenerative diseases, revitalizing injured or dead portions of the human spinal cord, or replenishing depleted liver cells does not at all entail growing stem cells to create a new fully-formed human being in the laboratory. Stem cell research and its applications in the realm of medical technology are therefore controversial for no rational reason. The ethical dilemmas associated with stem cell research are either rooted in hypocritical arguments against destroying in vitro embryos that would be destroyed anyway; or in unfounded fears regarding the use of stem cells in cloning. So long as the law prevents human cloning from becoming a reality, stem cell research can continue to provide promise to millions of human beings suffering from a wide range of diseases for which cures do not yet exist. New ethical dilemmas may arise if cloning becomes feasible but until then, stem cell research and cloning should remain separate issues. Health care institutions devoted to progress in research and providing patients with the broadest range of treatment options possible should welcome stem cell research as a means to further the goals of the medical establishment.

Global competition is already having a profound impact on healthcare policy in the United States. The rise of medical tourism presents particularly interesting challenges for businesses in the health care sector. Patients are increasingly likely to fly to Mexico, India, and Thailand for their medical services because of the lower costs and high quality of care. The same procedures cost far less in developing nations, and often doctors in countries like Thailand receive their training in American medical colleges. Furthermore, international hospital affiliations enables patients in the United States to find reputable institutions to patronize for services that they cannot afford at home. Procedures not or only partially covered by insurance plans are made more affordable abroad, even when the cost of flying and hotel rooms are taken into account.

One potentially positive effect of global competition is a price war that might reduce the cost of health care in the United States. Health care costs in the United States are exorbitant compared to the same procedures abroad, and many medical services are only partially alleviated by private insurance policies. Even when personal healthcare insurance covers some of the costs associated with treatment, patients pay for a large amount of their medical bills out of their own pockets. Employee healthcare plans are often insufficient to meet the needs of many patients, and health care policy in the United States has yet to keep up with the demand for cheaper services.

Also, American health care policy does not… READ MORE

How to Reference "Stem Cell Offer Unparalleled Potential to Alleviate" Term Paper in a Bibliography

Related Term Papers:

Stem Cell Research -- Ethical Issues Term Paper

Stem Cell Research -- Ethical Issues

The positive, progressive view of stem cell research raises the promise of one day helping to heal individuals with diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, spinal… read more

Term Paper 9 pages (2928 words) Sources: 5 Topic: Abortion / Pro-Life / Pro-Choice

---

Stem Cell Research the Issue of Federal Essay

Stem Cell Research

The issue of federal funding for embryos stem cell research is one of the most contentious and painful topics in the area of public health, because the… read more

Essay 5 pages (1684 words) Sources: 5 Topic: Aging / Death / Gerontology

---

Stem Cell Debate Term Paper

Stem Cell Debate

One of the most vehement scientific controversies of the last few decades has surrounded stem cells -- their harvesting, and use in research. Stem cells are found… read more

Term Paper 5 pages (1963 words) Sources: 5 Topic: Biology / Life

---

Stem Cell Research and the Future Thesis

Stem Cell Research and the Future of Humanity

Stem cell research has become one of most controversial topics in recent medical history. With each new medical discovery in stem cell… read more

Thesis 7 pages (2382 words) Sources: 12 Topic: Disease / Virus / Disorder / Injury

---

Stem Cell Research Genetic Engineering, Genetic Modification Term Paper

Stem Cell Research

Genetic engineering, genetic modification, and gene splicing are terms used for the process of manipulating genes in an organism, generally outside the organism's normal reproductive process (Genetic… read more

Term Paper 5 pages (1336 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Genetics / DNA / Genes / Heredity

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>