Since man started experimenting with human subjects the issue of Bioethics has appeared. The questions of Bioethics began to surface after World War II when the Nazis committed such atrocious crimes on prisoners in the name of medical experimentation. Then, the cry came that abortions are wrong and they should be considered murder. It is still an issue and came up during the last presidential election. Stem cell research decisions are still being debated. The controversy continues about the time when an embryonic stem cell is considered to have ''human life''. Some think the embryonic stem cell is considered a human life two weeks after the sperm fertilizes the egg. Here’s is the law and the question at hand to be determined.
- When is the stem cell considered to be a human life? If a stem cell is declared as human life after 2 weeks of inception, then using the embryonic cell is murder at the time it becomes a living person.
- If an embryonic cell is not considered to be a person until much later after conception then using 2 week old stem cells is morally acceptable.
In times past these issues were left to the philosophers and theologians to determine and give such answers. However, today the issues find their way into the courts and into the hands of a Bioethical Attorney.
- Apart from stem cell research what will happen to the descendents of stem cells?
- In opposing stem cell research, are pro-life leaders leaving the real problems behind? The problems stem cell research is hoping to eradicate?
- Court Cases like the Terri Schiavo’s trial to terminate death is an example of a Bioethical Attorney at work.
- Human Cloning is also a Bioethical Attorney concern.
Currently, many Bioethical Attorneys also have another side to their practice while the Bioethical Cases are slowly showing up in court. Text books on Bioethics just appeared in the 1970’s. Bioethics is a new adventure for attorneys. Salaries are indicated but currently aren’t any higher than other legal cases defended by attorneys. Time will tell as more laws related to Bioethics are passed and as science and medicine continue to play a role in research and determining life/death circumstances.
Lisa Ikemoto: A Law Professor of Bioethics
The University Of Davis School Of Law is where Lisa Ikemoto teaches her classes in Bioethics. She pursues her focus of scholarship and teaching in bioethics, health care law, and public health law in hopes of equipping Bioethical Attorneys. She has published much work on genetic technology and she currently explores issues in regenerative medicine such as tissue, organs, and stem cell use in the markets. Bioethics Attorney and Professor Lisa Ikemoto also teaches and researches in the field of health care disparities, and the role of race in public health. The Professor has also written some articles on the political and pharmaceutical issues influencing bioethics that can be found on the internet entitled, ''Scientific Integrity Makes a Comeback'' and ''The Human Life Amendment Redux''.
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