OCR Text |
Show Hinckley Journal of Politics 2006 research, though at a slower pace, and the federal government will have far less influence when the rulebook is written of what is permissible or not. Likewise we cannot become carried away with the incredible potential of stem cell research. Most of the possible benefits are ahead in the future, and there is no guarantee that the research will result in the treatments that many supporters imagine. That is why for now it is stem cell research, not stem cell therapy. Scientists must make great advances in almost every aspect of the research, from controlling the rate of cell growth, to directing those cells to become useful in different areas in the body. But these amazing possibilities will remain only mere speculation until federal funds are made available for embryonic stem cell research. No other type of stem cells, whether they are adult stem cells (including cord blood stem cells), or those derived from skin cells have the same potential that embryonic stem cells have. This issue is not likely to go away until federal funds are provided for this research, or another rnethod is developed that results in treatment. Until that point is reached, or it is conclusively determined that stem cell research is not beneficial, this issue will continue to be a pressing matter. The prospects of potential treatment are enticing, and warrant full investigation. States such as California and New Jersey have taken the lead by providing state funding for embryonic stem cell research. It is imperative that Congress and the White House follow their example and allocate federal funds to this important research. James Thomson, a pioneer of stem cell research, provides the most fitting conclusion "It is difficult to estimate just how damaging the current restrictions have been to the field to date, but if the current restrictions are not eventually lifted, patients will suffer needlessly" (Vergano, 2004). References Abernethy, Robert. (2001, July 27). Religious views on stem cell research. Religion and Ethics Newsweekly. Episode 448. Retrieved December 7, 2005 from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionande-thics/week448/perspectives. html. Baker, Peter. (2005, May 21). President vows veto on stem cell research. The Washington Post. p. A06. Retrieved September 27, 2005 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti-cle/2005/05/20/AR2005052000482.html. Bill summary and status for the 109th Congress. H.R. 810. Retrieved September 22, 2005 from http://www.congress.gov/cgibin/ bdqueryk?dl 09HR00810@@@L& summ2=m&. Bill summary and status for the 109th Congress. S. 471. Retrieved September 22, 2005 http:llwww.congress.gov/cgi-binl bdquery/z?dl09SN00471@@@P. Bill summary and status for the 109th Congress. S. 876. Retrieved September 25, 2005 from http://Thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?dlO9:SNOO876:@@@D&summ2=m&. Bush, George W. (2001, August 9). Remarks by the President on stem cell research. Retrieved August 22, 2005 from http://www,white-house.gov/news/releasesl2001l 08/20010809-2.html. . Caplan, Arthur. (2004, October 5), Stem cell research a pawn in election politics. MSNBC Retrieved from http :l/vjvow.msnbc. msn. com/id/61426641- Christian Coalition of America. (2005, October.26). Embryonic stem cell research, Retrieved December 7, 2005 from http: //www. cc. org/mcmc. cfm. CNN, 1998. Researchers isolate stem cells in lab. Retrieved September 21, 2005 From http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/ 9811/05/stem.cell.discovery/'. CNN Poll. (2005). Do you think the federal government should or should not fund research that would use newly created stem cells obtained from human embryos? August 5-7. Polling Report website. Science and Nature. Retrieved September 15, 2005 from http ://www/pollingrepor t. com/science. htm#S tern. Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics, (n.d.). Mission statement. Retrieved October 8, 2005 from http://www.stemcellresearch.org/ statement/index.html. Connolly, Ceci. (2005a, July 30). Frist breaks with Bush on stem cell veto. The Washington Post, p. A01. Retrieved September 15, 2005 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2005/ 07l29IAR2005072900l58.html. Connolly, Ceci. (2005b, August 23), Stem cell advance muddles debate. The Washington Post, p. A03. Retrieved September 19, 2005 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp dyn/content/article/ 2005/08/22/ AR200508220ll98.html. Connolly, Ceci; Weiss, Rick. (2001, August 28). Stem cell colonies' viability unproven. The Washington Post, p. A01. Accessed September 15, 2005 from http://www.washingtonpost.coml wpdynlcontentlarticlel200ll08l28IAR2005033106414.html. Fitzpatrick, William. (2003) Surplus embryos, non-reproductive cloning and the intend/foresee distinction. The Hastings Center Report. May-June 20. Goldstein, Amy & Allen, Mike. (2001, August 10). Bush backs partial stem cell funding. The Washington Post, p. A01. Retrieved September 15, 2005 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wpdyn/content/article/2001108110/AR2005033106452. html. Hatch, Orrin. (2002, April 3). Pro-life means helping the living: The case for regenerative medicine. Salt Lake Tribune. Human Cloning Ban. Human Embryology Authority. Assisted human reproduction: Facts and ethical issues. April 3, 2003. http:l'/www.catholiccommunica-dons.ie/pastlet/ahr.html. Accessed 12/7/05. Johns Hopkins University, 2002. http://www.jhu.edu/clips/ 2002_l2l27lgearhart.html Accessed 9/21/05. Kelly, Linda. Stem cells: Promises and perils. Presentation, March 2006. Kirk, J. Stem cell study thrives in Seoul. The Washington Times, June 2, 2005. http:llwashingtontimes.com/worldl20050602-103603-8446r.htm. Accessed 12/8/05. Murphy, Kathleen. Fetal homicide laws stir abortion debate. Stateline.org. April 28,2003. http:llwww.stateline.org/ stateline/?pa=story&sa=showStorylnfo&print=l&id=302037 Accessed 10/10/05. National Institute of Health, 2005a. NIH's role in federal policy, http: 11 www .stemcells .nih. gov/policyUsUHFedPolicy .asp. Accessed 8/22/2005. 23 |