 |
 |
Published Tuesday, July 17, 2001, in the San Jose Mercury News Letters to the Editor Precious time wasted in stem-cell debate I appreciate the Mercury News editorial (Opinion, July 9) calling for public and private support for embryonic stem cell research, as this issue is all too personal. I am the vice president of medical services for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. We are accustomed to dealing with the antics of anti- abortion groups. For me, the stem cell ``debate'' hits closer to home since, for the last 10 years, I having been living with my own physical deterioration due to Parkinson's Disease. And once again I confront anti-abortion groups trying to impede the most promising research breakthrough since perhaps the discovery of antibiotics. As noted in the editorial, the promise of research using stem cells from embryos is profound. I follow the developments on the biotech horizon on a daily basis, and there appear to be two roads we can take. One shows unprecedented potential for me and others suffering from debilitating diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, ALS and even spinal cord injury. If we proceed, I could possibly remain a productive member of society and perhaps even experience being ``normal'' in the way that most people take for granted. If we fail to seize the opportunity that stem cells offer by providing full public and private support, then my future stays on its current course. If this promising research is buried by politics, lawsuits or even misdirected to much less promising options such as the scientifically discredited ``adult'' sources of stem cells, then I will certainly never fulfill my 8-year old's dream that I be able to ice skate. More frightening, I will become wheelchair-bound and eventually bed-ridden, unable to speak or move. It is hard for me to understand what could tip the balance toward a globule of human cells that will be discarded against a future for living, breathing mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grandparents and friends. To be wasting precious time even debating this issue should be the source of our ethical discomfort. And in a supposed democracy where the majority of people support this research, for our government to be a possible contributor to the sacrifice of so many lives would be shameful. Lynn Fielder Vice president of medical services Planned Parenthood Mar Monte San Jose SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/opinion/letters/letters17.htm * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn