Life Affirming Science

Dr. Tara Sander Lee is a Founding Board Member of SALT, Science Alliance for Life and Technology. She is a Science Advisor and Consultant who earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Medical College of Wisconsin. She has over 30 years' experience in public policy, academic research and clinical medicine with an emphasis on the cause of pediatric disease There are numerous debates as to how far we can delve into scientific research and still hold to a system of ethics. Some say it really doesn't matter as long as it's for the common good. Take, for instance, embryonic stem cell research. Some will claim that since aborted baby tissue would otherwise go in the trash, it's fine to use it for experimentation. Others contend the use of fetal body parts from aborted babies in vaccines and treatment are also okay if others are being helped by it. Did you know there are labs that create human embryos solely for experiments? These embryos are usually destroyed once research is complete. Also, did you know aborted fetal tissue is still used in some medical studies? This research often happens without public awareness or consent. And what about the use of AI? AI tools are shaping choices in healthcare, pregnancy and research. If left unchecked, this can target those who are disabled, the unborn or even older adults. We are headed down a pathway of very concerning technologies, genetic screening, gene editing, cloning, artificial wombs, 3-parent embryos and even human-animal chimeras. Where do we draw the line? When is it time to put the brakes on scientific research to protect ethics and prevent us from going down the pathway of eugenics?