PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Meyer, John R TI - Human embryonic stem cells and respect for life AID - 10.1136/jme.26.3.166 DP - 2000 Jun 01 TA - Journal of Medical Ethics PG - 166--170 VI - 26 IP - 3 4099 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/26/3/166.short 4100 - http://jme.bmj.com/content/26/3/166.full SO - J Med Ethics2000 Jun 01; 26 AB - The purpose of this essay is to stimulate academic discussion about the ethical justification of using human primordial stem cells for tissue transplantation, cell replacement, and gene therapy. There are intriguing alternatives to using embryos obtained from elective abortions and in vitro fertilisation to reconstitute damaged or dysfunctional human organs. These include the expansion and transplantation of latent adult progenitor cells.