title: The embryonic stem cell lottery and the cannibalization of human beings.
abstract: One objection to embryonic stem (ES) research is that it 'cannibalizes' human beings, that is, kills some human beings to benefit others. I grant for argument's sake that the embryo is a person. Nonetheless, killing it may be justified. I show this through the Embryonic Stem Cell Lottery. Whether killing a person is justified depends on: (1) whether innocent people at risk of being killed for ES cell research also stand to benefit from the research and (2) whether their overall chances of living are higher in a world in which killing and ES cell research is conducted. I call this kind of killing 'risk reductive.'
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, St. Cross College, St. Giles, Oxford OX1 3LZ, UK. julian.savulescu@philosophy.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Savulescu
mesh_terms: D002190:Cannibalism; D019976:Cloning, Organism / Q000941:ethics; D003399:Craniotomy; D033041:Embryo Research / Q000941:ethics*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000601:surgery; D006708:Homicide / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D028723:Personhood; D011247:Pregnancy; D018607:Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D035845:Research Embryo Creation / Q000941:ethics*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012935:Social Justice; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014428:Twins, Conjoined / Q000601:surgery; D026712:Value of Life