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OPINION: Rescuing Stem Cells Beats Alternative Barbara J. McKee [log in to unmask] May 18, 2004 Well, it has happened. In Chicago five babies were born to be stem cell donors for their siblings. Each infant was chosen while it was still an embryo to ensure compatibility for a successful stem cell transplant. Each baby was born to a family that had a child suffering from leukemia or a rare form of lethal anemia. These new babies will save the life of their sibling. This type of embryo use has ethicists questioning the decision of the White House denying the use of stem cells from aborted fetuses. Since the Bush administration stopped further development of aborted fetus stem cell research, scientists have been testing the practice of families creating babies to save an ailing child. The process was the brainchild of Chicago's Reproductive Genetics Institute, which made the papers four years ago after helping a Colorado couple that had a child with a rare inherited disease called Fanconi anemia. The mother had a child that was a stem cell match through embryo tissue typing plus genetic disease screening. A stem cell transplant from the new baby saved the afflicted child's life. Stem cell research has taken a different route in the treatment of adult chronic and fatal diseases. The Kansas City Star reported a man with congestive heart failure received a transplant of his own stem cells into his heart to improve function. The stem cells were taken from his bone marrow, injected into the area of the heart that was damaged, and the area should regrow with new blood vessels and new muscles. But the development of creating children to fit a medical profile to save the life of another is the only choice if there isn't a match in the existing stem cell banks. Cord blood banks are popping up, asking families to save the blood from a newborn's umbilical cord to assure matching stem cells in case someone in the family gets a chronic or fatal illness. AlphaCord.com has a very persuasive argument for this practice. But stem cells from aborted fetuses could change this. Right-to-life advocates condemned using aborted fetuses, claiming dishonest doctors will deliberately perform abortions to harvest stem cells and sell them. Cımon, people. The original discussion was to use stem cells from aborted fetuses that were being thrown in the incinerators. This waste of stem cells still is going on. With so few choices left in the existing stem cell lines, people are now are forced to create children simply to save the life of another child. This worries me much more than using aborted fetuses. For those who don't have a new baby in the family to create a cord blood bank, they're left dangling, hoping the existing stem cell lines will match. Let's get back to allowing scientists to do their job. Don't get God involved in politics. He's got better things to do. McKee, who gets around in a wheelchair, is an Albuquerque writer, poet, performer and producer. Her column runs every Tuesday. Reference: AlphaCord http://www.AlphaCord.com SOURCE: Albuquerque Tribune, NM http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/opinions04/051804_opinions_mckee.shtml * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn