胚胎干细胞研究：伦理学在科学进步中的相关性。

Department of Biomedical Humanities, University of Navarra, Spain.

Med Sci Monit. 2002 May;8(5):SR21-6.

Experimentation with embryonic stem (ES) cells has become an important breakthrough in medical research. However, it is also a source of controversy, because it requires the destruction of the human embryos used to derive ES cells. This paper deals with some of the ethical issues concerning ES cell research. To begin with, the terms used in the debate on the ethical status of the human embryo need to be defined. Apart from the presumed benefits of ES cell research, we should also consider such issues as the strong opposition to this research by a large part of society, who argue in favour of protecting and respecting human embryos; the fragility and defenseless of human embryos; and the contradiction in terms inherent in the statement that human embryos must be treated with respect. Secondly, we should focus on possible conflicts between the financial, scientific, and ethical aspects of this debate. Thirdly, the significance of social and political debate requires clear and complete information that takes all consequences into account. Finally, the paper suggests how multipotent adult stem cell research may be an optimal and realistic alternative to ES cell research.

胚胎干细胞（ES）实验已成为医学研究中的一项重要突破。然而，它也是争议的来源，因为它需要破坏用于获取ES细胞的人类胚胎。本文探讨了一些与ES细胞研究相关的伦理问题。首先，需要对关于人类胚胎伦理地位辩论中使用的术语进行定义。除了ES细胞研究的假定益处外，我们还应考虑以下问题：社会上很大一部分人强烈反对这项研究，他们主张保护和尊重人类胚胎；人类胚胎的脆弱性和无助性；以及声称必须尊重人类胚胎这一说法中固有的术语矛盾。其次，我们应关注这场辩论在财务、科学和伦理方面可能存在的冲突。第三，社会和政治辩论的重要性需要清晰完整的信息，要考虑到所有后果。最后，本文提出多能成体干细胞研究如何可能成为ES细胞研究的最佳且现实的替代方案。