Embryonic Stem Cell Research and the Theory of Medical Self-Defense‪.‬

I. INTRODUCTION Human embryonic stem cell research has been heralded as a miraculous discovery that will one day help cure some of humanity's most devastating illnesses, such as Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease. (1) Though still in its early stages, (2) stem cell research holds the potential to help scientists understand the mechanisms of cell development and to provide effective models for developing new drugs and testing them for safety and efficacy. (3) Furthermore, because stem cells can develop into many different types of cells, further research may enable the generation of organs and tissue for transplantation. (4)