One of the most impassioned debates to have gripped Australian politicians and the public at large has been about the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research. This book examines all the issues.
The book provides a clear explanation of just what stem cells are - what the subtle differences are in the cells upon which the debate is focused, and why they are important for medical research. It will explain how Australia has found itself in the forefront of stem cell research, leading even the United States, and how important it is for us to stay there.
Are stem cells the potential miracle cure-all that researchers would have us believe, solving problems from the search for donor organs to curing diseases like Parkinsons and even cancer and dementia? But even if all the promises can be fulfilled, is it worth opening the potential Pandora's Box of ethical problems down the track?
Dr Elizabeth Finkel takes a clear-eyed look at the science, the ethics, the politics, the economics and the future.
