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>Copy of letter sent to senator spector and all members of his committee >holding hearings on stem-cell research. > >Dear Senator > >I am writing to you in support of lifting the ban on the Federal >funding of stem-cell research. > >I am a 53 year old physician currently receiving social security >disability (as well as private insurance) and confined to a wheelchair >with Parkinson's Disease. I ask that you consider my views as a >physician, a person with Parkinson's Disease and as a (former) taxpayer. > >Recent breakthroughs in stem-cell research offer almost unlimited >possibilities for the treatment of many of our most serious and >disabling illnesses. Because of a ban on Federal funding of this type >of research, Nobel-prize quality work such as that of Dr. Thomson at >the University of Wisconsin has needed to be privately funded Failure >to finance this research is certain to slow the development of this >cutting-edge technology in the US and with it, the possibilities for >life-saving cures for Diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, Spinal Cord injury >and other illnesses. > >While I understand the issues leading to the prohibition of the research >are not financial, the fiscal benefits of cures being found for some of >these diseases would be significant. As an example, if If I were not >disabled I would not be receiving over $xxx a year in Social Security >Benefits and in addition I would be paying $xxx a year in taxes which I >don't pay. > >I do respect the objections of certain individuals concerning the ethics >of such research but my understanding is that the cell-line that Dr. >Thomson developed is from the product of an in vitro fertilization (tet >tube) undertaken for the purpose of having a child. The embryo was left >over and would have been discarded if it had not been used for this >purpose. > >With stem-cell technology even more than other fetal cell use, the >charge that the use of this technology is "murder" is patently absurd >and if that word is to be thrown around it could better be applied to >those who impede the development of this potentially life-saving >bio-technology. > >I clearly recognize that there are ethical issues which need to be >discussed and monitored. But wouldn't it be better accomplished in the >ethics committees mandated by Congress to review the research as a >condition of funding rather than counting on the moral values of >corporate funders of the research to put morality over profit? > >Also, ironically, since certain fetal research is not banned and >stem-cell research will likely make most of that research obsolete, >funding this research would almost certainly decrease the use of aborted >fetuses for medical research purposes. > >Please lift the ban and get this important work funded. > >I thank you for your time in considering my opinions and observations. > > >Sincerely yours, > >Charles T. Meyer, M.D. >3315 Prairie Glade Rd. >Middleton, Wisconsin 53562 >[log in to unmask] >-FAX 608-833-9114 >Phone 608-833-9226 >******************************************************************************* >*********** Dr: Meyer: Would you be so kind as to tell me who are the members of Sen. Spector's committee and their e-mail addresses, so I can write and support your letters to them. Thanks - Ralph Reichert