The embryonic stem cell lottery and the cannibalization of human beings.

Journal article

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: Savulescu, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Bioethics
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 508-529
• Publication date: 2002-11-01
• DOI: 10.1111/1467-8519.00308
• EISSN: 1467-8519
• ISSN: 0269-9702
• Language: English
• Keywords: Ethical Analysis; Value of Life; Fetus; Personhood; Twins, Conjoined; Cloning, Organism; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; Research Embryo Creation; Embryo Research; Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal; Stem Cells; Risk Assessment; Humans; Cannibalism; Homicide; Female; Embryo, Mammalian; Pregnancy; Social Justice; Craniotomy