 |
 |
There were 241 Representatives in the House in the 104th Congress who supported the Udall bill, and 28 who supported the Smith bill. There is no one among us who if confronted with a broken arm, or a heart attack, would expect our congressmen/women to choose our course of medical treatment. Why on earth should we allow the few to dictate, based on their prejudices, what the best course of treatment should be for the Parkinson community? We too, have had correspondence with Congressman Saxton whom we respect, and have always voted for. It is important to note however, that fetal tissue research is not mentioned in the Udall bill. The ethical guidelines codified in the Research Freedom Act, (signed by President Clinton in 1993) and the penalties for violation ensure that research is performed with integrity and compliance. The Congressman wants "specific language in this bill which states that no fetal tissue research will be used." When Congressman Saxton came to office in 1984 research for Parkinson's was woefully underfunded, Mo Udall was in the early stages of Parkinson's, and abortions were not uncommon. In 1997 research is still underfunded and virtually dormant, Mo Udall is totally incapacitated, abortions are still not uncommon, and the Congressman writes that he is "committed to ensuring that Parkinson's research continues to maintain appropriate funding levels and doctors and scientists push forward to find a cure." Government funded fetal tissue research was discontinued during the Reagan and Bush administrations and teams of research scientists disbanded and went on to other pursuits. Who knows what advances might have been made if this research had been allowed to continue? The Udall bill is about research, not abortion! Dr. Eugene Redmond of Yale University is quoted in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Feb. 10, as saying, "As long as the ban was on, the political considerations and philosophical considerations were driving research. People were advancing research ideas because they were an alternative to fetal tissue and not because they may work. It was like Russia, where certain research had to be done because certain people believed it was true." We suggest doubling our efforts to impress upon our legislators the importance and the urgency of supporting and co-sponsoring the Udall bill NOW; that we respond quickly to the often wordy but non-committal letters we receive from elected officials, that we ask for the support of organizations we have supported over the years at the national and grass roots level; that we write letters to the editors, and to columnists, and to reputable TV programs, and visit local retirement communities, fraternal organizations to talk about the Udall bill, thus reaching out to those in the Parkinson's, and the general community who do not have access to these messages. To paraphrase Senator Barry Goldwater, extremism because of their obsession with abortion, by people we have elected to office, is not a virtue. It would be tragic indeed, if what the scientific community may decide to pursue, was again put into pseudo disrepute by politicians and more years are lost. Fifteen years ago, virtually nothing was known about HIV/AIDS. The scenario is so much better today because the HIV/AIDS community didn't take "no" for an answer, and illustrated by their advocacy the difference that dedicated people can make. The symptoms of Parkinson's were known about during biblical days and described by Dr. Parkinson in 1817. Isn't it time to turn the corner, and to support the Udall bill which will be introduced by Senator McCain and Representative Upton? ### Sy & Dolores Gross [log in to unmask]