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Paul F.... BRAVO!!! Well stated.... Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: P&B Fahr <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Sunday, February 13, 2000 5:58 AM Subject: Stem cells/Fetal Tissue/NIH >List members: >The following is a letter to the editor of my local newspaper >from 1994, the year my father died of PD complications and the >year after my brother was diagnosed with PD. Bob Martone's >recent posting about a letter to NIH reminded me of this letter. > >Some of the comments about fetal tissue transplants is now >outdated, BUT, with some minor editing the same letter would >apply to stem cell research. Research is a continuous process. >Stem cell research evolved from those experiments in the early >1990s. > >Bob, you or anyone else may use any of these comments you wish. >I stand by what I said then. What I said is just as valid now. > >Also --- the following quote from a posting a couple of days ago >makes a valid point. > > "Would the people who oppose the research refuse the cure?" >K-F Etzold > >There are people that oppose use of animals in research but if >the doctor prescribes the approved medication or medical >procedure they accept it. > >Paul Fahr >+++++++++++++++++ >February 25, 1994 > >The Feb. 24 commentary by **** ******* brings up many valid >points concerning the conflicts of public policy and moral >issues. There is one point, however, where her position on the >issue makes a moral judgment that is contrary to her position on >the other issues. > > Parkinson's disease affects thousands of persons in this >country. There is no cure. >Progression of the disease can be slowed by some very powerful, >often hallucinogenic >medications but not stopped. Unlike Alzheimer's or most cancers, >Parkinson's disease >is not a fatal disorder. The patient still has their mental >abilities but due to an imbalance >in a part of the brain they slowly lose their ability to >communicate, lose control of their >bodily functions, and lapse into a "fetal" state. They become >100% dependent on another >human being for their very existence. > > Research in foreign countries has shown that implanting a >minute quantity of fetal cells >into the affected part of the brain of the patient with >Parkinson's syndrome can restore that >person to a useful, productive life. The results have been >profound and well documented. >The procedure has been the subject of a documentary on PBS. The >actively growing >tissue from a fetus has proven to produce the best results. >Tissue from a more mature >source is not viable enough to reproduce effectively and benefit >the patient. > > You will note that the research has been done in foreign >countries, not in the United > States where we have the best medical research facilities in >the world. That can now > change as of 1993. > > I respect your position on abortion and will not argue that. >What I question is your >apparent position that a fetus is an important human being but a >person 45, 50, or 60 >years old is not important enough to try to find a cure for their >debilitating disorder--even >with a potential solution on the horizon. A person with advanced >stages of Parkinson's has >all the characteristics of a fetus--they are just 50 or 60 years >older. You apparently are >willing to sentence a formerly productive, breathing, feeling, >loving person to life in prison >in his or her own body. > > Organ and tissue transplants have become an accepted method of >using human tissue >from a life that has ended to make the life of another human >being more fulfilled. I hear >no outcry against the practice. We do not question how the >donated organ or tissue >becomes available...be it by murder, accident, or natural causes. >We accept it as a gift >and use the resource available to save a life or make a life >better. > > The first step in research is seldom the final solution. I do >not foresee fetal tissue >transplants as "the answer" to the problem. The ultimate goal is >to determine exactly how >the process works so that an alternative can be found. >Transplants are only a step in that >direction. The cure for Alzheimer's or other neurological >disorders may result. Let's give >the doctors and medical researchers in America the opportunity to >solve the problem >without undue conflict. You never know when you, your family, or >a loved one may >become the beneficiary. > > The brain is a terrible thing to waste---whether it is 6 weeks >or 60 years old. > >Paul E. Fahr > >++++++ >The editor used the following headline: > >The brain is a >terrible thing to >waste at any age