Embryonic stem cells - Narcissism unleashed

From WorldNetDaily, Aborted-fetus shots used to stop aging:

There's a heavy demand in Russia for aborted and miscarried fetuses – for stem-cell injection treatments designed as anti-aging therapies.

The treatments are the hottest thing among the Russian elite since Botox.

According to a report in the Scotsman, pharmaceutical magnate and former presidential candidate Vladimir Bryntsalov, 58, one of Russia's 27 billionaires, is already a firm believer in the experimental treatment that can cost as much as $9,000 per session.

"I had lots of wrinkles on my face, but now the skin is as smooth as a baby's," he said. "I also had terrible scars on my body that were there since childhood, but they too have disappeared."

Never mind, the disappearance of moral clarity or the destruction of the sanctity of human life, just so long as you can look good.

Some are questioning the legality as well as the ethics.

"We are talking about a huge, corrupt and dangerous trade in dubious therapies," said Professor Vladimir Smirnov, director of Moscow's Institute of Experimental Cardiology. "The authorities have never licensed any medical specialist to administer injections of stem cells. These methods are totally experimental and illegal."

Investigations are currently being carried out into an illegal baby trade that sees impoverished women from Russia and the surrounding countries selling their aborted fetuses for about $200.

The unborn babies are cryogenically frozen before being peddled for use in the rejuvenating skin treatments.

Some women, according to a report in the London Observer, are being paid extra for having their abortions late term, producing more valuable dead babies.

"Doctors tell the women or girls that there is a problem with their pregnancy and that the baby has to be aborted, or else they are offered more money," said Ukrainian investigator Sergei Shorobogatko.

This should lay to rest the rejoinder that some of us are committing a slippery slope fallacy when we point out the danger of such things occurring. I'm sure some will say that Russian society is much more corrupt than other countries, so we don't have to worry about that. But, once you have rationalized the use of embryonic stem cells for experimentation, you really don't have much left to argue against other uses.

Afterall, it would not be convenient to have to deal with scars and wrinkles. We are only talking about protecting innocent human life.

Previous pro-life posts:

Knee Jerk Arguments
Interesting contrast
Fundamental Issues
Abortion - no consequences?
Stem cell research
Another interesting contrast
I see - pro-life people :-) part I
I see - pro-life people :-) part II

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