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== Stem Cell Research == | == Stem Cell Research == | ||
Stem cell research is a very sensitive and contemporary topic therefore many Poskim have yet to offer clear rulings. These are some of the important factors that one must take into consideration regarding stem-cell research. | Stem cell research is a very sensitive and contemporary topic therefore many Poskim have yet to offer clear rulings. These are some of the important factors that one must take into consideration regarding stem-cell research. | ||
#Is in vitro fertilization permitted to begin with? | # Is in vitro fertilization permitted to begin with? | ||
Most authorities permit In-vitro Fertilization.<ref>Yitzchak Bretowitz, “The Pre-Embryo in halacha”</ref> This is because it is not considered spilling the seed due to the fact that the long term goal of In- Vitro fertilization is to create life. | Most authorities permit In-vitro Fertilization.<ref>Yitzchak Bretowitz, “The Pre-Embryo in halacha”</ref> This is because it is not considered spilling the seed due to the fact that the long term goal of In- Vitro fertilization is to create life. | ||
#May a very early embryo be sacrificed for stem cells that could save lives or at least cure disease? | # May a very early embryo be sacrificed for stem cells that could save lives or at least cure disease? | ||
Most authorities would permit it for three reasons. 1. Even an implanted embryo before forty days of gestation is considered by some authorities not to be a life at all. <ref>Based on Yevamot 69b which refers to a pre 40 day fetus as “merely water” </ref> 2. An unimplanted embryo may as well be considered not a life at all because it is outside of the womb.<ref>Yitzchak Bretowitz, “The Pre-Embryo in halacha”</ref> 3. Given that destroying a unimplanted pre forty day embryo is almost certainly not considered murder, the lifesaving potential of stem cell research can be considered the more important value. | Most authorities would permit it for three reasons. 1. Even an implanted embryo before forty days of gestation is considered by some authorities not to be a life at all. <ref>Based on Yevamot 69b which refers to a pre 40 day fetus as “merely water” </ref> 2. An unimplanted embryo may as well be considered not a life at all because it is outside of the womb.<ref>Yitzchak Bretowitz, “The Pre-Embryo in halacha”</ref> 3. Given that destroying a unimplanted pre forty day embryo is almost certainly not considered murder, the lifesaving potential of stem cell research can be considered the more important value. | ||
# May we fertilize ova specifically to create an embryo to be sacrificed for stem cells? | # May we fertilize ova specifically to create an embryo to be sacrificed for stem cells? | ||
