Rotorua woman Willie Terpstra has been in the news a lot lately following her 'controversial' stem cell transplant surgery in China (where it's the only country to allow the treatment). Willie has motor neuron disease and had 2 million stem cells injected into her brain via two holes drilled into her skull.

The stem cells come from aborted foetuses, the result of China's one child policy. I'd just like to know everyones ethical stand point on this.

I have no problem with it and think that if it can save other people's lives then it is fine.

Also if people are having abortions then why not use it for medical purposes, it seems a good way to make good use of things.

I agree, but I can see the right wing public starting their slippery slope argument, saying that soon women will be having abortions on demand to get money for their foetuses.

There definitely needs to be some stringent measures put in place to stop sick and twisted shit like that happening.

I agree with Sarey, rules do need to be imposed and quickly before a black market opens up or something like that

Yep, I was listening to Keere Woodham on newstalk zb a few nights ago and she was saying that yes, a black market could emerge.

The thing is that how could a black market emerge, that would not only take so much time and effort but it would also requre a scientific and medical background.

It is unlikely in y opinion.

I think there is a likelihood, albeit a small one IMO. All you need is one or two corrupt docs looking for a quick buck. Hire a couple of unsuspecting thugs to transport the foetuses and you've got yourself the beginnings of a black market.

I fucking hate the slippery slope arguments in most cases because some are just so stupidly far fetched it makes me want to stab people. Though, I guess if you're going to argue it properly you need to take a look at both sides.

Yeah that is true, I mean there is corruption out there in various fields, teachers, police, priests and so naturally there would corrupt doctors out there.

The thing is, it would cost a lot of money in order to actually set up a medical practise.

having said that, gps are most likely to be the ones to do so.

how many doctors would be trained in the area of stem cells.

On the other hand, this will save many people's lives and give more doctors more opportunities.

Any doctor with access to aborted foetuses could start a black market. Selling them to research companies/other doctors doesn't require them to have a skill in stem cells.

shit, I hadn't thought about that but hospitals have security guards and that is generaly here abortions are carried out.

Can't say I've seen many security guards around any hospitals I've been to. I realise it's rather pessimistic, but it's not entirely impossible either.

There are security guards at the auckland central hospital.

If stem cells to eventually become available in New Zealand then they would start at auckland central and hospitals would have to get security guards in order to prevent illegal acquisition of aborted featuses.

A lot of families now are saving the umbilical cord from their child. There's a company called Cordbank that stores these cords which are apparently full of stem cells.

I could see these types of organisations being ripped off by corrupt doctors.

that sounds really disgusting and does sound like a money making venture.

If the umbilical cords were kept on a hospital location then that would be okay but as it is not a hospital location it is not alright.

There will be private market that emerges.

i don't see that people will get pregnant just to have an abortion and then make money though as some people are saying will happen.

And I think it will be a long time before it comes into New Zealand.

I think the idea behind it is admirable, but I can see why you're concerned about the cord blood being kept by someone other than a doctor. But then, what if said doctor turns out to be some hippocratic oath breaking bastard and steals said cord blood for his own financial gain?

It's either trust a doctor who could possibly rip you off, or a company that could possibly rip you off. Such is life I suppose.

Oh, and heres the cordbank website. I had a wee read but didn't find it overly informative.

http://www.cordbank.co.nz

so I guess its a case of you can't trust anyone really and that someone, anyone could use it t their advantage rather than gor the purposes of good.

The idea behind it is great, it will save lives and nobody else is affected in saving those lives.

Im pro stem cell research, it can do so much more good than bad. Im also pro-abortion, not in the sense that I want mothers that might otherwise have had their child to abort it and sell it for a quick buck, but Ive seen a lot of freinds in high school get pregnant and looking back now Im very glad they got abortions, the mothers were not stable people and the kid would not have had a good life, its in my very controversial oppinion that its births like that create the messed up people we have in society today.

Yeah I would agree about that but that is not the only cause behind a fucked up society. There are societal factors and then there are the factors that you are born with.

True. Growing up an unwanted child has got to have some horrible effects on the psyche.

Not just the psyche but also the way you relate to people.

There waas an article somewhere about how boys are growing up without their fathers these days, it was totally unrelated to this. But anyway I reckon that could have a detrimental effect on the way someone behaves in life.