This article discusses the current political debate regarding federal funding for human embryo-derived stem cell research (EDSCR) including an overview of the controversy behind the issue and the legislation and political activity surrounding the topic. The main controversy about whether federal funds should be made available for EDSCR is related to the opposition’s utilitarian belief of the immorality of destroying or using human embryos for scientific research. As a result, the political discussion surrounding EDSCR falls into the category identified by Christopher Z. Mooney as morality policy. An overview of morality policy is also included to illustrate the differences between it and other types of public policy. A discussion about how nursing researchers and nurses as health policy analysts can contribute to the political debate on stem cell research is included.
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