Biomedical Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Biomedical Ethics - Essay Example Traditionally ethics followed two major schools. Utilitarianism, majorly propagated by John Stuart Mill & Jeremy Bentham, suggested that what is moral is what leads to happiness or pleasure. The principle of utility is sometimes summarized as "the greatest good for the greatest number." (Mark Kuczewski, "Methods of Traditionally Applied Philosophy: Utilitarianism") Of course the "pleasure" in principle here should not be confused with hedonism. Utilitarian approach deflates hedonism itself by believing that simple, moderate living is more "conducive" than vanity affairs. The other school rang the bell of Deontology. Majorly propagated by Immanuel Kant & John Rawls, the essence is well compressed in the line "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." (Mark Kuczewski, "Traditionally Applied Philosophy:Deontology") However these theories are just general in approach and provide a bird's eye view of reality. Snake venom is used as its own antidote. Dynamites are used to blast human beings in wars and also mountains to build roads alike What is "utility" then Poison or medicine Destruction or construction At instances such as these intuitively correct responses are gone along with and either side can be justified by mere play of words. Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics. First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. There are two types of stem cells: Embryonic Stem Cells: Embryonic stem cells-Primitive (undifferentiated) cells derived from a 5-day preimplantation embryo that are capable of dividing without differentiating for a prolonged period in culture, and are known to develop into cells and tissues of the three primary germ layers. (NIH, Glossary) Somatic (adult) stem