Curzer Howard
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-3092, USA.
J Med Philos. 2004 Oct;29(5):533-62. doi: 10.1080/03605310490514225.
In this article I rebut conservative objections to five phases of embryonic stem cell research. I argue that researchers using existing embryonic stem cell lines are not complicit in the past destruction of embryos because beneficiaries of immoral acts are not necessary morally tainted. Second, such researchers do not encourage the destruction of additional embryos because fertility clinics presently destroy more spare embryos than researchers need. Third, actually harvesting stem cells from slated-to-be-discarded embryos is not wrong. The embryos are not sacrificed for the good of others because they would have been destroyed anyway. Fourth, harvesting stem cells from embryos that are not doomed is morally acceptable, because preserving frozen embryos is futile therapy. Finally, creating embryos solely for the sake of harvesting stem cells from them is morally acceptable because the assumption that embryos have the right to life has very counterintuitive implications.
在本文中，我反驳了保守派对胚胎干细胞研究五个阶段的反对意见。我认为，使用现有胚胎干细胞系的研究人员并不因过去的胚胎破坏行为而有罪，因为不道德行为的受益者不一定在道德上受到玷污。其次，此类研究人员不会鼓励破坏更多胚胎，因为目前生育诊所丢弃的多余胚胎比研究人员所需的更多。第三，从注定要被丢弃的胚胎中实际获取干细胞并无不妥。这些胚胎并非为了他人利益而被牺牲，因为无论如何它们都会被销毁。第四，从不注定要死亡的胚胎中获取干细胞在道德上是可以接受的，因为保存冷冻胚胎是无效治疗。最后，仅仅为了从胚胎中获取干细胞而创造胚胎在道德上是可以接受的，因为胚胎享有生命权这一假设会产生非常违反直觉的影响。
