The ethics of cloning and creating embryonic stem cells as a source of tissue for transplantation: time to change the law in Australia

Every day, people die because there are insufficient tissues available for transplantation. The development of cloning and embryonic stem (ES) cell li ne technologies offers real hope for developing better sources of tissues f or transplantation. Moreover, these new technologies may mean that damaged tissue (for example, after a stroke or heart attack) can be replaced with n ormal functioning tissue rather than scar tissue. Research into 'therapeuti c cloning' and the development of ES cell lines is illegal in several State s in Australia. It is time to review that legislation in order to allow des tructive embryo research. My argument is that at least research should be a llowed on spare embryos from assisted reproduction; that it is only one mor al view (of several plausible ones) of the status of the embryo which precl udes producing embryos for research; that this view is mistaken and so it i s morally permissible to produce embryos for research into therapeutic clon ing.