The rapidly developing field of stem cell research mobilises immense amounts of money in private and public grants, says Celia Deane-Drummond. But it also raises deep ethical questions regarding health justice and the dignity of human life.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has welcomed promising new adult stem cell treatments for patients suffering from heart disease and strokes.
Pope Benedict XVI has encouraged a group of experts to search for heart treatments using adult stem cells, saying scientific experimetation should be encouraged, provided it is not to detriment to other human beings.