Etiese perspektiewe op die gebruik van embrionale weefsel vir terapeutiese doeleindes

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The progress that has been made over the last decade in the field of medical technology, has made itpossible to treat medical conditions today, that was considered incurable before. In the medical fieldthere are three milestones in particular which has led to important new discoveries. These are thecharting of the human genome, the development of cloning techniques, and the discovery that stem cellscould be used in the treatment of a great number of illnesses, as well as the regeneration of sick ordamaged tissue.The development of these therapies are, however, morally controversial. The main reason for this is thefact that in most cases, these techniques involve research on, or the use of, embryonic cells. The reasonwhy many people believe that it is morally problematic to use embryo tissue for research and/ortherapeutic purposes, is because embryonic cells have the potential to develop into fully independenthuman persons. It is, however, also this characteristic of these cells which makes them so suitable foruse in stem cell therapies: Because certain types of stem cells, especially stem cells that are found inembryos in an early stage of development, have not yet differentiated into specific cell types, they canbe used to repair any cell type in a person with a compatible tissue type. The reason for this is thatundifferentiated stem cells have the potential to change into any cell type found in the human body.The question that arises when a decision about the moral acceptability of these therapies has to be madeis whether one can say that an existing person who happens to be ill, has a higher moral standing thanan embryo. The only way in which the use of embryo tissue could be morally justified, would thus be ifit could be proved that the moral standing of an embryo is not equal to the moral standing of a person.The other important consideration that has to be taken into account when the moral acceptability ofthese therapies has to be taken into account is the fact that it is possible to harvest stem cells from anumber of sources. Some of these sources of stem cells are less controversial than others.The discussion of the moral problems arising from the use of embryo tissue for therapeutic purposes,would thus, in this thesis, focus to a large extent on determining what the moral status of the embryomight be. The different positions with respect to the moral standing of the embryo will be discussed inthe light of arguments for, as well as against the use of embryo tissue for therapeutic purposes. An explanation will also be given of therapies for which the use of embryo tissue might be needed, atpresent as well as in the future. The potential gains for people suffering from certain conditions, couldpossibly serve as a justification for destroying embryos for therapeutic uses.The main purpose of this thesis is to be able to give morally justifiable reasons for the therapeutic use ofembryo tissue. The specific conditions that would have to be met to make these therapies morallyjustifiable will also be explained.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University