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Why I Support Stem Cell Research
Jan. 16th, 2006 02:40 pmI would like to call your attention to a recent article in the Denver Post concerned with a bill that would lift the current administration's effective ban on embryonic stem cell research. Yes, the Liz Wald in the article is related to me: she's my aunt, and Wyatt and Noah are my cousins. So you can see why I'm hoping that the Senate will pass the bill in favor of stem cell research and by a big enough majority that Bush can't veto it.
I think a lot of opponents of stem cell research don't really understand where the supply of stem cells will come from. The cells do not come from aborted fetuses, but from embryos, probably out of fertility clinics. Any IVF proceedure creates a lot of "spare" embryos that will never be used. So I don't see why people make a big fuss about using them for research. They are balls of cells at that point and they are not, nor will they ever be, people. And they can be used to improve the lives of people like my cousins who have Type I diabetes, or Parkinson's, or a number of other conditions. I know that success is not guaranteed, but there's a damn good chance that it will do something.
Incidentally, does anyone know what our (Pennsylvania's) Senators views are as far as this issue is concerned? Because I may have to write them letters.
I think a lot of opponents of stem cell research don't really understand where the supply of stem cells will come from. The cells do not come from aborted fetuses, but from embryos, probably out of fertility clinics. Any IVF proceedure creates a lot of "spare" embryos that will never be used. So I don't see why people make a big fuss about using them for research. They are balls of cells at that point and they are not, nor will they ever be, people. And they can be used to improve the lives of people like my cousins who have Type I diabetes, or Parkinson's, or a number of other conditions. I know that success is not guaranteed, but there's a damn good chance that it will do something.
Incidentally, does anyone know what our (Pennsylvania's) Senators views are as far as this issue is concerned? Because I may have to write them letters.
