As the new millennia of ideological misconceptions approaches, the scientific community seems to unflinchingly endeavor a much more than ambitious precedent in the course of socio-civilization. Therapeutic cloning purposes a radically new process by which to “theoretically” treat and cure many diseases and illnesses. Somatic cell nuclear transfer, the most promising of the therapeutic cloning processes, has the potential to treat an approximated 100 million people who currently suffer from Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, organ failure, and diabetes, to name a few.
However, the successful procedure has one resulting consequence: the destruction of what many claim to be the moral equivalent of a human individual. Let it be clear that the deliberate destruction of inchoate life should never be taken lightly. Human life, whether it be in the form of our elderly, a child, or even a precarious bundle of cells, must always be regarded with the utmost dignity and respect. Murder, which is a biproduct of what therapeutic cloning promotes, can never be justified; even when its purposed goal is the greater good. Therapeutic cloning is one of the vilest, morally revolting, prospects ever conceived of. Salvation of the millions at the expense of our humanity? Exploitation of the human essence at the price of our moral integrity? Where are we willing to draw the line? Religious and political leaders alike confide in the vulgarity that therapeutic cloning implicates-and with rightful cause. “cloning embryonic human life, under any circumstances, crosses an ethical line, takes an irrevocable step,and leads us into a treacherous absurdity from which science can never turn back,” stated Pope John Paul II.
Besides this clear violation of morality, we must also consider the circumstacical premises under which therapeutic cloning would be socially and ethically inadmissible. Presently it takes a little over 100 unfertilized eggs to produce a viable stem cell line (stem cells being the key component in single cell nuclear transfer). What this basically surmounts to is the extraction and collection of 10 billion ovum from over half a million women-who, by the way, must be willing and able to donate these eggs. The egg harvesting procedure in itself isn’t the “safest” or most “reliable”; women have testified to the pain of such procedures. Furthermore, if therapeutic cloning institutes itself as a permissible practice, women might be offered a capitalistic incentive because of the limited availability of donated egg cells. I’m assured we can all clearly see what kind of social debauchery this implies. As such, the maternal figure head might then be reduced to little less than a fervent hen house. Therapeutic cloning’s ends don’t justify the means.
There are serious repercussions and implications which must also be dually noted when over viewing therapeutic cloning’s supposed “benefits.” If therapeutic cloning could extend the duration of life for approximately 100 million Americans, then what this basically amounts to is a surplus in the already over saturated populous. It has been reported by World New Tonight that the baby boomer generation has caused an increase in the average family household. The baby boomers have also significantly inflicted dramatic economic and demographic changes; health care reform and social security here serve testament to potency of their presence. The same will undoubtedly occur when people experience a longer life expectancy because of therapeutic cloning’s irresponsible promises.
And so it is today must we refrain from the “ideological misconceptions” and “millennial capitulations.” It is today that our responsibility as a rational society must be affirmed. More importantly, is today that we must fight to preserve the sanctity of what it truly means to be human. We are endowed with the cardinal merits of reason and intellect: it is not intended that we forgo their use.
