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OPINION: Stem Cell Issue Overwhelming Wednesday, October 06, 2004 To the editor - News coverage of the stem cell issue has been overwhelming across the United States. With all the information out there, it's a wonder how anyone could make sense out of what is exactly true. Some politicians claim they want full funding for this embryonic stem cell research, some say the government has already provided it. Some even say they don't want it at all, that the progression of this science is immoral, unethical, perhaps even evil. The one thing that I rarely see is discussion about what happens to the thousands of embryonic cells that fertility clinics toss into the trash every single day - quite literally - and have for decades. Why is stem cell research wrong, when fertility clinics are approved to toss embryonic cells into the trash? I am neither a scientist nor a politician. I am, however, a person with Parkinson's disease; diagnosed on Oct. 24, 1994. I am also a Parkinson's disease advocate for the Parkinson's Action Network (PAN). Science should be about keeping our options open, especially when there is the potential to provide life-saving treatments or even cures. Of course, it is very important that we continue to ban human cloning. For me, this is not a political debate or a partisan issue: it is about a hopeful science that could potentially save many. The time is upon us to ask for funding for this important research without arbitrary restrictions and allow us to see what the future holds. Carolyn Stephenson Addison SOURCE: The Leader, United States http://www.the-leader.com/articles/2004/10/06/opinion/edit02.txt * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn