Mr. President, No
The President has dug himself in for a battle over embryonic stem cell research. The problem is that he is dug himself into a hole that makes no ethical sense. He is in favor of research on stem cell lines that already exist but not on frozen embryos that already exist. He allows destruction of embryos for IVF but not for research. And he talks about adoption when that is manifestly not an option for most frozen embryos which are put aside often because they don't look right.
He is a man of principle but his principles are simply incoherent. - Art Caplan
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Art, would you please learn a little about these issues before posting on them? I mean, really. The suggestion/allegation that Bush "allows destruction of embryos for IVF but not for research" is a flat misstatement of fact.
There are no--none, not any--federal restrictions on destroying embryos for research.
There is just no funding for such research.
- by Thomas on Jun 1, 2005 at 1:27 AM | link
the president has sad to the point of nausea that he absolutely opposes embryo destruction. that is his argument for not funding ESR. So why does he tolerate the overt practice of embryo destruction at some IVF clinics?
- by Art Caplan on Jun 2, 2005 at 12:03 AM | link
Art, is that a correction of your original misstatement? It doesn't look like it to me, but I've been wrong about things before.
In any case, your response repeats the error of your original post. Bush opposes destruction of embryos for research and for IVF; the federal government, as a result of his policy, doesn't fund either, but permits both. So how is that placing research in a disfavored position relative to IVF? And are you claiming that to oppose the destruction of embryos, one must favor a ban on their destruction, and not rest content with a refusal to fund such destruction? I'd thought that the Bush position--a moderate position, to be sure--would at least find a bit of support, but now it appears you'd insist on a much more comprehensive pro-life position.
I'm afraid that it's not the president who's incoherent on this one. Unfortunately it's the guy who's paid to think big thoughts on this subject.
- by Thomas on Jun 2, 2005 at 12:20 AM | link
You can always see how ignorant to the science one is by how much they support human embryonic stem cell research (hES) - you can always see their bias when you see why they support it.
Did you know:
1) The United States has fewer restrictions than almost any country in the world wrt hES? (Source: Scientific American, June (or July) 2005).
2) The United States government gives more $$$ just for hES research than almost all other countries combined? ($40million this year alone per NIH & same SciAm. We spend another 1/2billion on other stem cell sources - including non-human embryonic stem cell sources)
3) Bible thumping Christianity is NOT what slows down hES research.
4) India does not allow embryos to be created for their stem cells? (Nor do most other countries.)
5) The UN has recommended a ban on ALL cloning?
6) Embryonic stem cells (ES) produce tumors?
7) ES don't makee the beta-cells necessary to produce insulin? (The make tumors, though)
8) Adult stem cells DO make the beta cells necessary to produce insulin - and 85% of patients treated with them are off insulin?
9) There are no 'therapies' tied to 'therapeutic cloning' - the clone's cells were rejected by the animal from which the clone came?
10) Adult stem cells have caused 80+ patients to use walkers instead of wheel chairs - and have provided benefit to almost 100% of the patients?
11) Adult stem cells have put people in remission for MS, Parkinson's, Crohn's, Lupus (and repaired organ damage), sickle cell, bubble boy, and more?
12) ES have zero cases where they have done something adult stem cells have.
13) Researchers will use hES for DRUG therapies, not reparative therapies?
14) There are only enough embryos available for research to divide as 220/state - and most are so old that they aren't wanted?
15) hES are hard to get and hard to grow - which is why there are only 150 lines world wide.
16) hES research will require millions - perhaps hundreds of millions of eggs (400/disease not enough).
17) 10% of egg donors suffer health consequences - that can include death.
18) 'Embryonic quality' stem cells have been found in fat, hair follicles, testicular tissue, placentas, amneotic fluid, etc.
Adult stem cells are already doing what embryonic only promise ... and without putting women's health at risk!
Stop drinking the Kool-aid and get educated!
Edited By Siteowner
- by Mary A. Hamilton on Apr 26, 2006 at 9:08 PM | link