Planned Parenthood recently came under fire about their use of fetal tissue. Fetal tissue is the tissue of an aborted baby that is eight weeks or older, most research uses embryonic tissue. Embryonic tissue is the tissue obtained from an aborted embryo, according to The Bump; this embryo is a baby who is up to eight weeks in the womb. Explorable observes, embryonic tissue cells are used for scientific research specifically for their stem cells, which are able to grow into different types of cells. These cells are found in our bodies, as well, but there are a lot more of them in embryonic cells, placenta, blood from the placenta, and fertilized eggs that were not placed into a female’s body. The Genetics Policy Institute reports, stem cell research has found scientific advancements in diseases, such as, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and even blindness.

Growing up attending Catholic schools, I was taught a lot about the consequences of abortion. A lot of things Catholics believe, I don’t believe in, but their views on abortion are definitely something I agree with. When an embryo is just four weeks old, heart, blood vessels, lungs, stomach,and liver are already developing. By week eight, the embryo’s eyelids, ears, and nose are developing while the arms, legs, fingers and toes are developed and growing larger. To me, this is a human baby because it is living and breathing. I do understand how, if a woman is raped, she doesn’t want to deal with the traumatic experience of giving birth to a child conceived in that manner. What I don’t agree with is a woman seeing a baby that is a part of them as a mistake because they aren’t ready, and getting rid of it. In my opinion, someone else’s life shouldn’t be a choice for anyone to make. If a fetus is defined as a person, then it should be considered a person during abortion.

However, abortion is legal and this fact will most likely never change in America so why not use this opportunity to help others? No, I don’t agree with abortion, but I do believe in the advancement of medicine. If using the stem cells from these unborn fetuses or embryos can help find the cure for cancer than we should use them, as long as the parent is knowingly agreeing to donate it. So in the case of whether using embryonic or fetal tissue is ethical, I think that it is; the question is whether abortion is ethical.