Ethical Issues in Tissue Engineering

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Health Benefits
Stem Cells
Ethical Issues
Future Prospects
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

One of the most recent advances in medicine is tissue engineering. Tissue engineering is the synthesis of semi-synthetic human tissues using complex laboratory techniques and equipment. Tissue engineering carries with it prospects of curing diseases such as kidney failure, liver diseases, and diabetes through the synthesis and transplantation of new organs to replace the diseased ones. However, tissue engineering has also received significant criticism due to the ethical issues associated with the synthesis of semi-synthetic human tissue. Scientists now propose that there is a need to address the ethical issues before human beings can benefit from developments in tissue engineering (Mooney 59).

Health Benefits

Tissue engineering carries with it many health benefits considering that it is a technology that can be used to create “spare parts” for most organs in the human body. People will not need to wait for extended periods to find a kidney or a heart donor and burn victims can have their skins reconstructed. People can have spare organs such as bladders, breasts, bones, and liver. Tissue engineering involves the manipulation of embryonic stem cells to grow into an organ of desire. The manipulation involves growing the embryonic cells in specific biochemical factors that trigger them to grow into a particular organ (Mooney 64).

Stem Cells

The manipulation of stem cells to grow into desired organs is easier and more effective as compared to waiting for transplants. Scientists will only have to isolate cells from the body and manipulate them. However, donor organs are usually rejected by the recipient’s body. Therefore, scientists are usually forced to suppress the immune system of the recipient to ensure that the donated organ is not rejected. In an emergency, the stem cell option is more effective (Mooney 78).

Ethical Issues

Developments in stem cell research can only be beneficial when people are comfortable that the ethical issues surrounding stem cell research are dealt with adequately. One of the most debated issues is the use of embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are derived from already fertilized ova. Critics argue that the use of embryonic stem cells for research is unethical because embryos should be given a chance to grow into individuals. Although most of the embryos used are considered medically non-viable, there is still the concern of some doctors using viable embryos when the use of embryonic stem cells is legalized. A major challenge for scientists is the possibility of stem cells turning into cancer cells. Studies with mice have shown that when the stem cells turn cancerous they can cause a tumor called a teratoma. The possibility of injecting human beings with cells that could be possibly cancerous also raises ethical concerns (Mooney 81).

Future Prospects

Recent developments in tissue engineering include the use of techniques that ensure that transplants are not rejected by the recipient’s immune system. One such approach is the surrounding cells with a plastic membrane to protect them from the recipient’s immune system. Scientists are attempting new ways to ensure that cells obtained from tissue engineering are effectively transplanted into the recipient’s body with minimal side effects (Mooney 84).

Conclusion

Tissue engineering has prospects of providing a solution to diseases such as diabetes, and kidney and liver failure. However, research is still underway to ensure that tissue engineering is carried out ethically and that it does not lead to further medical risks.

Works Cited

Mooney, David. “The Promise of Tissue Engineering.” Scientific American. 1999: 59-87. Print.

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