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Stem cells of hope: Government must take lead in research (Published July 7, 2001) The miracle of modern fertility technology may eventually create an even greater medical spinoff -- treatments for ailments such as diabetes and Parkinson's Disease. Yet for the government to lead in this exciting medical pursuit, President Bush must take the politically touchy step of allowing federal funding of research on stem cells derived from human embryos, a move opposed by some but not all opponents of abortion. If Bush doesn't squarely place the federal government as the leader of this research, he will open the door to unregulated use of human embryos by the private sector, and the possibility of ethical and medical problems. Scientists hope to use stem cells, which are the precursor of the many different cell and tissue types in the human body, as medical repair kits, growing new cells to aid damaged tissues or organs. The best sources of cells for research are surplus human embryos derived from in vitro fertilization but which would otherwise be discarded after a woman seeking fertility treatment becomes pregnant. Harvesting stem cells from such embryos does not prevent or end a prospective life. Bush must navigate around an existing congressional ban on all federal research on human embryos. The Clinton administration mapped such a course, issuing a ruling that allows the government to pay for research on stem cells so long as the scientists receiving federal funds do not work on the embryos themselves. Bush is now reviewing this strategy. The politics here don't follow the classic battle lines over abortion. A coalition of Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate (including Republicans Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Orrin Hatch of Utah) support funding of stem cell research and may push their case with new legislation. The question here for Bush is not whether stem cell research will go ahead, but how such research will be conducted. Biotechnology companies are already busy studying these cells, with nothing to prevent them from purchasing unneeded embryos from fertility centers. Private discoveries will lead to private patents and likely greater costs to patients for treatments than if the public had underwritten the discoveries. It would be unethical for couples or fertility clinics to consider creating human embryos simply to sell their stem cells. But that would inevitably happen -- if not here, then abroad -- if federal rules and federal funding of research do not dominate this field. Bush should not throw away an exciting chance to treat disease and ethically guide stem cell research simply because the politics are too touchy. http://www.sacbee.com/voices/news/voices01_20010707.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn