THE ETHICS OF THERAPEUTIC CLONING AND STEM CELLS MANIPULATING

U ovom clanku autor analizira razlicite metode kloniranja, a osobiti naglasak stavlja na terapeutsko kloniranje covjeka i s time povezano manipuliranje s embrionalnim maticnim stanicama. U prvom poglavlju elaboriraju se znanstveni aspekti kloniranja, s naglaskom na kloniranje covjeka, kao i probleme s kojima je kloniranje povezano. U drugom poglavlju rijec je o terapeutskom kloniranju i manipuliranju embrionalnim maticnim stanicama covjeka. U trecem poglavlju autor analizira eticke aspekte terapeutskoga kloniranja te manipuliranja embrionalnim maticnim stanicama (EMS). Autor iznosi glavne eticke probleme koji proizlaze iz novih tehnologija, te nudi odgovore koji proizlaze iz pomnog promatranja ljudskog subjekta od trenutka njegova zaceca. Moralno je nedopustivo za dobivanje EMS služiti se živim ljudskim embrijima jer je svaki ljudski embrij, od trenutka spajanja ljudskih spolnih gameta, ljudski subjekt. Kao ljudski individuum, on ima pravo na vlastiti život. Stoga je va$enje unutarnje stanicne mase blastociste, koja teško oštecuje ljudski embrij time što prekida njegov razvoj, teško nemoralan i potpuno nedopušten cin. Iz tog proizlazi da svaka vrsta terapeutskog kloniranja koja ukljucuje proizvodnju ljudskih embrija kao i njihovo uništavanje, kako bi se dobile embrionalne maticne stanice, eticki nije dopuštena. Dakle, nijedna svrha, ma kako dobronamjerna bila, ne može opravdati zahvat kao što je upotreba embrionalnih maticnih stanica u terapeutske svrhe. Naime, nikakva dobra svrha ne opravdava loša sredstva. Autor naglašava da mogucnost korištenja odraslih maticnih stanica u istu svrhu kao i EMS stoji kao cinjenica, premda su potrebni još mnogi koraci na oba podrucja prije negoli se budu mogli vidjeti jasni i sigurni rezultati. Ova mogucnost pokazuje najrazumniji i najcovjecniji put kojim treba ici ako se želi postici istinski napredak na ovom podrucju.In this article the author analyses different methods of cloning, particularly emphasising the therapeutic cloning of man and with that related manipulation of embryonic stem cells. In the first part scientific aspects of cloning, with the stress on the cloning of man, is elaborated, as well as the problems related to that. In the second part we can learn about therapeutic cloning and manipulation of the embryonic stem cells of man. In the third part the author analyses ethical aspects of therapeutic cloning and manipulating of embryonic stem cells (ESC). He presents some major ethical problems developing from new technologies, and offers answers arising from a careful observation of human subject from the moment of conception. It is morally unacceptable to use live human embryos to get the ESC, because every human embryo, from the moment the two human sex gametes get together, is a human subject. As a human individuum, he has right to his own life. Thus the extraction of internal cell mass of blastocyst, which badly damages the human embryo and stops its development, is a heavily immoral and entirely illegal act. Consequently, any kind of therapeutic cloning that includes the production of human embryo or their destruction in order to get the embryonic stem cells is ethically wrong. Therefore, no purpose, no matter how much well intentioned it is, can justify such an intervention as it is the use of embryonic stem cells in therapeutic purposes. Namely, good purposes cannot justify the use of bad means. The author emphasises that the possibility of using the adult stem cells for the same purpose as the ESC is acceptable as a fact, although many steps in both fields are necessary before some clear and safe results are reached. This possibility indicates the most sensible and the most human way that has to be taken if we want to achieve a true progress in this area