Preparation Outline for informative speech: Stem Cell Research Title: The Wonders of Stem Cell Research Thesis: Stem cell research is a very controversial topic, today I will give you some information about the research, so you can decide for yourself if stem cell research should be allowed to continue or not. Introduction: * (Attention material: visual ) Do any of you know who this man is? Well he is Dr. James Thomson, one of the leading scientific innovators in the research of stem cells. (Audience connection) I’m sure at some point you have all heard about stem cell research. Maybe just like me you too just don’t know enough about the subject to have a well-informed opinion of you own.
A very large percentage of tests conducted on animals have been proven to be futile. Often funding is put into animal testing, but the results do not correlate with human beings. Scientists have given great amounts of their time and effort attempting to find cures for cancer in rodents, but so far have been unable to imitate human cancer in any animal or even come close to finding a cure (Overton 1). Most diseases are unique to a specific species, and this is why using animals to test human medications usually fails. Animal testing has also been proven to be very inaccurate.
PET scans can also show the brain in action which is useful for psychological research. However this is an extremely costly technique and therefore not easily available for research, also as the patient has to be injected with a radioactive substance, the technique can only be used a couple of times. PET scans are less precise than MRI scans. Twin studies are also of value to the bio psychologists in investigating the assumption that behaviour is due to our genetic makeup. MZ twins share 100% of their genes, same behaviour is
Shani Hunter Ethics 04-05-10 What would you do? It is not enough to share positive results on actionable higher risks with research participants Genetic testing usually uncovers many more cases of good news, such as absence of genetic abnormalities. If both the elevated as well as the normal risks of disease were communicated to all research participants, most of the results that are divulged to research subjects would be about non-elevated risks—a relief, or at least a cause not to worry. Ethically, this approach may be easier to defend or advocate instead of communication limited to the high-risk findings. When a person decides to become a research participant, they are putting their health into the researches hands.
Geneticists now have the ability to manipulate or restructure genetic material. This manipulation is commonly referred to as genetic engineering. This is a highly controversial topic due to its ability to potentially take control of the genome and design human life. Public opinion polls indicate that more than eighty percent of those surveyed oppose genetic engineering. Of the opponents, a common focal point of concern is the lack of regulation and clear guidelines in the United States on genetic modification.
It is evident in Shah’s essay that those participating in the these trials generally receive no medical benefit from the research conducted, and in many cases are being given drugs that do not have a strong correlation to the medical needs of the populations in which they live. Shah cites malaria for an example of an ailment that affects 500 million worldwide in developing countries, yet these people are participating in drug trials relevant to arthritis, obesity, and heart disease. Inherent in this system are questionable ethical practices. Informed consent is an example. In many cases when signing informed consent documents an alarmingly large percentage are misinformed as to the effects of the drugs they are taking.
Babies by Design By Ahmad Theibich July 16, 2012 BABIES BY DESIGN Outline Thesis: Designer baby, a new medical invention has led to much debate in society where many affirm that changing the traits of a baby is a good thing while opponents refuse it believing it is a bad thing. I- The invention of designer baby is a good thing. A- Physical 1- Appearance 2- Health B- Mental 1- IQ 2- Memory C- Social 1- Education 2- Mortality rate II- The invention of designer baby is a bad thing. A- Physical 1- Disease 2- Mutation B- Ethical 1- Religion a- Christianity b- Islam 2- Freedom of choice C- Social 1- Social gap 2- Resemblance BABIES BY DESIGN Since the beginning of humanity, human beings started to search and invent new things to make their lives easier. During the 19th century, the world had witnessed several huge medical revolutions; patients who previously died from specific diseases are surviving now because of vaccination and new treatments.
Critics argue that permitting organs to be bought and sold is unethical, while others believe that it is their “God- Giving” right to do whatever they want with their bodies. An NEC member, Chante Procell was asked to start the process of research by reviewing the arguments for and against the commercialization of organ transplants and construct a report with her suggested plan of action. After reviewing the arguments for and against, Chante was surprised how similar the arguments were but totally opposite. Many argued that selling human organs is immoral and unethical. Then, the opposing argument was that people sell their sperm, blood, hair, plasma, eggs and are surrogates.
However, robots are not a good medical therapy for the future because, despite how close they can come, they will never be able to have the same face-to-face interactions and communications as other humans do; they are also too easy to become attached to. The once imaginary goal to have more human-like robots has been steadily getting closer to reality. These human-like robots are beginning to be used for medical purposes, as the article shows. The article explains that these robots are being tested to be used to help stroke, Alzheimer’s, and autistic patients. For all of these medical conditions, it is a long road to recovery whether it is for physical or cognitive reasons, or even both.
Congress has been deeply troubled with the quality of nursing home care since 1986, when it held hearings that led to the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. It has never appropriated sufficient funds to enforce the provisions of the Act or funded the personnel and training necessary to inspect nursing homes regularly and intensively. Nursing home law provides significant benefits to clients and their families. On top of the federal rules, every state has its own system of nursing home inspections and laws that may provide residents with even greater rights. “Quality of life” is such a controversial concept because it is so subjective to define.