The ethical challenges of stem cell therapy in vascular disorders

Most ethical conflicts in clinical medicine are resolvable with the foundational basic principles of bioethics, i.e. autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. However, the modern medicine is continuously evolving, and in doing so asks challenging questions not just scientifically, but also deeply probes the far-reaching depths of bioethics, generating political, religious, and cultural controversies. Stem cell research, the latest in therapeutic advancements of modern medicine has demonstrated immense potential in laboratory experiments and clinical applications, but these successes have unearthed highly controversial debates on "personhood" and the criteria that would define a human being besides the biological concept. The futuristic potential of stem cell research although marks an exciting phase for scientists, yet horrifies the philosophers, religious thinkers and ethicists about the birth, existence, and proliferation of human clones and chimera. Thus, the inevitable clash between science, ethics, and religion opens the portal to political controversies. This chapter herein will provide the readers an opportunity to reflect on different viewpoints to the argument and ethical debate in stem cell research with special attention to the therapeutic applications in vascular disorders of limbs and myocardial ischemia related disorders.