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It is useful to point out, as does the article "Embryonic stem cell debate is more than science vs. religion", that along with the religious issue there is a whole context of policy issues -- What limits should be placed on the commodification of donated human body parts? How can the direction and conduct of scientific and medical research be properly determined in a capitalist society that involves "patents, products and profits?" -- etc. Being a citizen I understand the need to resolve policy questions in the presence of technology that is racing ahead. However, being a patient with a serious disease I also understand the urgency to find treatments and cures. The article does not take into account the patient's position, and there are millions of us. Analyzing, debating and resolving all the stem cell and other policy issues in the current political climate will take years. The time between the present state of research and future treatments will also be years. As an article in today's Boston Globe indicates, researchers are being discouraged from entering the stem cell field by the uncertainty over funding. We can't afford to defer the research until policies are complete while real patients suffer and die. These activities can proceed in parallel. If we must err on policy, let's err on the side of the patients. Phil Tompkins Amherst, MA ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn