Using the Dying as Stem Cell Guinea Pigs

Last week, I blogged on Ian Wilmut’s proposal to conduct embryonic stem cell research on people dying of ALS and perhaps, other neurological diseases. (Wilmut cloned Dolly the sheep and is now the head of a university regenerative medical institute.) He hopes to gain the approval of UK authorities even though embryonic stem cells haven’t yet proved efficacious in treating neurological illnesses in animal studies and could cause tumors.

It stuck in my craw. Why should stem cell research be exempted from the ethical standards that apply in other areas of medical inquiries? And, it seemed to me, here was just another way this research seems to lead to dehumanization. I expanded on my concerns for the Daily Standard, which can instantly be accessed here.