Part of what makes the study of ethics so fascinating for me is that in order to get to the core of the issues at hand we must also recognize the people whom it effects. Ethical decisions do not occur in a vacuum but rather have real consequences on real people. At the same time we cannot allow our ethical decisions to be based on purely emotional responses. The study of ethics became real for me again as I entered into the discussion with students in a biology class. They were debating the question of whether or not the government should designate federal funding for stem cell research. If it did, the second question was whether or not it should place any restrictions on the types of cells used or how those cells were managed. With thousands of people suffering from diseases or conditions that would benefit from the application of future stem cell research it is no wonder why this debate has heated to the boiling point. The question for ethicists and for people of faith like myself is if the research being conducted is endangering human life in its earliest forms. The answer is invariably and unequivocally yes.
I did not come to this conclusion lightly. I came to this conclusion after looking at the scientific facts, understanding the nature of life itself and weighing the benefit versus the cost.
The scientific facts that I have been able to gather in studying this subject with this class is that there are two kinds of stem cells. The first are embryonic. And while many contend that these are the best stem cells for research they do require the destruction of a live embryo. Herein lies the debate. The second kind of stem cell are those taken from adults in areas such as bone marrow and other areas of the human body. These stem cells do not always provide the best opportunity for research but do not involve the moral quagmire that the use of embryonic stem cells causes.
My understanding of the nature of human life is that it begins at conception. I understand that is neither a comfortable or convenient conclusion for many people because it limits what science can research and many personal decisions we may be forced to make. However, understanding that life, even in its earliest form is life does prevent us as a society from taking the approach that life is only life when it is useful, or free from suffering, or able to conduct basic tasks. If any of these conditions are not met then the individual ceases to be classified as alive and can be disposed of, ignored, or worse. If for example we were to surmise that a person is a live when they are born then it opens the door to abortion. If we argue that a person is alive when they can express themselves, their sentience or intelligence, then we can have infanticide, euthanasia, or the killing of the mentally disabled. It is the epitome of a slippery slope.
The cost on the other side of this moral debate is not cheap. Many people are literally dying as they wait for this research to move forward. But I would ask if they would want another person to die so that they could live (and I do not mean as in an organ transplant where the donor's death has no relationship to the recipient's need).
In serving God and serving others I must look carefully and compassionately with everyone in this ethical situation. One thing I cannot afford to do is judge the motivations or circumstances of any other person. Instead I must listen before I can begin to educate and inform them of what might be God's will in their life. Too many times we have debated with others instead of inviting them to discussion. We inadvertently ignore their pain in the desire to be simply right.
What frightens me is that our children today are being taught so many conflicting lessons on the sanctity of human life. They are being taught that one life can be traded for another. It is very much the "culture of death". But the good news is that there will always be those who promote life. But that promotion must be compassionate and eager to listen to the circumstances of those who are suffering through these decisions.
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