The source of this article is PRNewswire: http://tinyurl.com/648ku
Scientific, Medical and Policy Experts Comment on Anticipated Stem Cell Remarks
Michael Reagan Expected to Mention Bush's Stem Cell Policy During Remarks at
The Republican National Convention
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ --
"Understanding life-threatening diseases -- whether Parkinson's,
Alzheimer's, or AIDS -- cannot accommodate ideological limitations imposed on
promising avenues of research, such as the use of embryonic stem cells.
Solving the body's mysteries, in order to protect the health of the public,
demands faithful adherence to intellectual curiosity unfettered by politics or
personal beliefs. As long as the need for knowledge is so great, the American
Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) will defend the capacity to pursue
science in the service of all humanity." -- Judy Auerbach, Ph.D, Vice
President for Public Policy at the American Foundation for AIDS Research
(amfAR). Former Director of the Behavioral and Social Science Program and the
HIV Prevention Science Coordinator in the Office of AIDS Research (OAR) at
National Institutes of Health (NIH); former Assistant Director of Social and
Behavioral Sciences in the White House Office of Science and Technology
Policy. Contact: Peter Taback: w: 212-806-1602 or c:
646-379-1445.
"President Bush has drastically limited access to new stem cell lines
despite the enormous hope this research provides. This is just one example of
this administration's larger, disturbing pattern of distorting and censoring
scientific findings that contradict its policies. Science cannot be bent to
support theology-based decisions. Science is science and theology is theology,
and government and scientists must be honest about the basis upon which
scientific research is being allowed to develop." -- Thomas J. Coates, Ph.D,
Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases at the David Geffen
School of Medicine at UCLA. Co-founder, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies at
UCSF; and member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of
Sciences. Contact: 310-794-3580 or [log in to unmask]
"This Administration's handling of the issue of stem cell research is just
one example of many instances of political interference with science. In
dismissing Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn from the President's Council on Bioethics,
the administration attempted to block out objective advice from scientific
experts whose views did not conform with its agenda -- as it has done on
issues ranging from lead pollution to emergency contraception. Regardless of
the Administration's ultimate decision on embryonic stem cells or any other
issue, it is inexcusable that it attempted to interfere with independent
scientific advice." -- Dr. Kurt Gottfried, Professor Emeritus of Physics of
Cornell University and Board Chair of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
Former senior staff member, European Center for Nuclear Research in Geneva;
former chair, Division of Particles and Fields at the American Physical
Society, member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Council on
Foreign Relations. Contact: Lexi Shultz at [log in to unmask] or 202-223-6133
ext. 126.
"The debate over stem cell research reflects the Bush administration's
overall antipathy toward science. Though the benefits of stem cells are not
yet known, we do know that by providing misleading and inaccurate information
about the existing cell lines, the Bush Administration has limited the ability
of scientists and medical researchers to explore its full potential. This
willingness to stifle potentially important research and manipulate and ignore
scientific evidence extends to a broad range of critical public health
concerns, such as toxic pollution and serious diseases like AIDS. It is time
for the Bush Administration to stop interfering with the scientific process
and ensure that public health decisions are based on objective inquiry and
informed by a range of expert opinions." -- Susan West Marmagas, MPH, Director
of Physicians for Social Responsibility's Environment and Health Program.
Member, Environmental Protection Agency's Children's Environmental Health
Protection Advisory Committee; former chair, Environment Section of the
American Public Health Association. Contact: cell: 703-408-6073.
"The stem cell issue is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the
Bush Administration's manipulation of science. From keeping emergency
contraception from gaining over the counter status, to misrepresenting condom
effectiveness in preventing HIV/AIDS, the administration has demonstrated a
disturbing pattern of putting politics ahead of science. It is time to
restore scientific integrity to government decisions that affect families'
health, public safety, environmental protection and community well-being."
-- Kirsten Moore, President & CEO of Reproductive Health Technologies Project.
SOURCE UCS/RHTP
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