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> Subject: Bush Deliberate in Stem Cell Decision > From: Murray Charters <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 17:18:51 -0700 Wednesday July 11 10:44 AM ET Bush Deliberate in Stem Cell Decision WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) is approaching his decision on stem cell research in a careful, deliberate way that reflects the ``sensitivity of all concerned,'' the White House said on Wednesday. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer (news - web sites) gave no indication of when Bush will make his decision or which way he is leaning on whether to allow spending of federal funds for research into human embryonic cells. Bush met in the Oval Office on Tuesday with a group of bioethicists on both sides of the issue. The debate over stem cell research is between those who believe stem cell research can lead to medical advances on such illnesses as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and those who are against any research that destroys human embryos. ``The president is going to approach the decision in a very thorough, thoughtful and reflective fashion, and will do so ina manner that will not seek fanfare, but that seeks care and deliberation, because that is the nature of this decision and that is the fact that all sides of this issue have recognized,'' Fleischer said. ``This is a question that involves important matters of ethics, and science and hope and life. And the president believes that for our society these issues need to be dealt with in as nonpartisan a way as possible, that promotes best decisions that reflect the sensitivity of all concerned,'' he said. Stem cells are master cells that can transform themselves into any type of cell in the body. They offer the potential of regenerating damaged organs or tissue. Many scientists believe stem cells can be used therapeutically in treating brain maladies such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, diabetes, heart attacks, strokes and spinal cord injuries. According to a study published on Wednesday, scientists for the first time have created stem cells from human embryos using eggs and sperm from volunteers who made the donations for the explicit purpose of providing tissue for medical research, Scientists at the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk said 12 women donated eggs and two men donated sperm to create embryos that yielded a reservoir of stem cell tissue. Fleischer said the new study ``illustrates the complexity in our society in starting to deal with these issues of research, technology and life.'' SOURCE: Reuters / Yahoo Daily News http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010711/ts/health_stemcell_bush_dc_1.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn