Who benefits from stem cell research?
Given what Kirsten Birkett said in her article, ‘Let us do anything, that good may come’ (Briefing #309), the following comment (sent in by a Briefing reader) is particularly interesting:
In his view supporting stem cell research, Chris Gatfield asks the question, “Would you deny the thousands of people who will benefit from this method of treatment?” (SMH letters 25/6/04).
A better question is, “Would we deny the tens of thousands of embryos who will benefit from being allowed to live, if we don't pursue this method of treatment?”
The answer to this question is, tragically, yes. The irony is that while our culture will make ethical decisions based on the majority of those whom they think will benefit, yet more embryos are killed than the number of people who will possibly/hopefully benefit from stem cell research. So even in a utilitarian framework (i.e. the best outcome for the greatest number of people), the proponents of stem cell research have still got it wrong. The majority don't benefit, because they are killed before they are even allowed to develop further and be born.