title: Reconstructing the stem cell debate.
abstract: Human embryonic stem cells have been a major topic in science, medicine, and religion since their discovery in 1998. However, due to the complex discourse and rhetoric of scientific language, debate has remained within the professional realm via "expert bioethics." Using the tenets of pragmatism, the author examines the need to move the debate to society as a whole and disentangle the stem cell debate from the ideologies of the human cloning and abortion debates. Opening this issue to a societal debate will advance societal growth, resulting in informed decisions on moral issues, funding, or regulation associated with hES cell research.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sitko
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D003256:Community Participation; D003657:Decision Making; D033041:Embryo Research / Q000941:ethics; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D009014:Morals; D011057:Politics; D011640:Public Policy; D013234:Stem Cells; D014481:United States; D026712:Value of Life