Diverse Perspectives: Considerations About Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Abstract

Since the initial isolation of human embryonic stem cells in 1998 (Thomson et al. 1998), important developments in research have offered the promise of valuable therapeutic breakthroughs while continuing to raise significant social, ethical, legal and policy challenges. Among the interests of the Indiana University Center for Bioethics (IUCB) is a desire to engage issues of this kind, and in so doing, to provide a resource to the IU community, to Indiana, and to the entire country. The topic of stem cell research was, therefore, an appropriate one for discussion at the Center. In January 2002, the IUCB created a Stem Cell Study Group (SCSG). Our primary goal was to provide a forum for informed public discussion of the issues by making use of the considerable local scientific, legal and ethical expertise. In other words, we wanted primarily to educate ourselves about these issues. Our secondary goal was to identify and describe those points on which agreement could be achieved, as well as those issues on which agreement proved difficult if not impossible. This paper summarizes our efforts to meet both of these goals.