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youngrunner
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 Posted: 03/25/05 - 22:32 Post subject: Stem cell research
| Quote: | House passes bill endorsing stem cell research, prohibiting human cloning
By RACHEL LA CORTE
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The state House passed a bill endorsing stem cell research after an emotional floor debate late Tuesday night in which opponents warned that lawmakers were crossing a dangerous line.
The state would permit stem cell research, including the controversial use of embryonic stem cells, and prohibit human cloning under the measure that passed on a 59-36 vote and now heads to the Senate, where a similar bill is awaiting action.
"We have taken a very important step forward for all the people in this state who are hoping for cures, for all the children with diabetes, for all the parents with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's," said Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, D-Normandy Park, the bill sponsor. "It would be immoral and unethical to not take advantage for the living."
Washington law currently doesn't address stem cell research.
Stem cells have the ability to develop into many types of cells. Research on how to use them could potentially lead to new treatments for diseases including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and diabetes, according to the National Institutes of Health.
But the specific use of embryonic stem cells is a contentious topic.
The cells are from human embryos created through in-vitro fertilization. Proponents of using these specific stem cells for research say they hold some of the greatest promise for finding cures. Opponents say using them is destroying human life.
Lynn Schindler, R-Spokane Valley, said lawmakers were doing "something that we can't pull back from.
"We are getting in the middle of something that our creator is a part of," she said. "We are making life. We are creating life and then taking it away."
But Rep. Bill Eickmeyer, D-Belfair, said that the use of stem cells was no different from organ transplants.
"What we're talking about here is a new technology, looking at new ways to save lives with live cells," he said. "Live cells from human beings to save human beings."
Mark Miloscia, D-Federal Way, held back tears as he explained why he would be voting against it.
"You're here to serve others," he told his colleagues. "This bill, while it may help us, we're taking advantage of the least among us."
Under the proposed law, fertility patients would be required to provide written consent before they donated any unused embryos for research. |
What's your thoughts on how George Bush restricted stem cell research?
It bothers me that he did. I feel that he denied many people the possibility to be cured or have more effective treatment. If he had someone in the family or even a close friend who was paralyzed or in some way could benefit from the research I doubt he would've done as he did.
I read a similar article today in the newspaper, and I was glad to see that some changes are being made. Science is one of the most valuable tools for understanding the world around us and for helping others, so I don't feel that it should be restricted in such a way that would cause people who need hope most to lose it.
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MechEngDropout
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Posted: 03/25/05 - 23:12 Post subject:
I don't know. I really don't have a firm stance on this. On one hand, I think I would have an ethical problem with cloning humans. If research continues, I'm sure it would be possible. It's something I'd really rather not think about, especially if humans are cloned for the sole purpose of organ transplants or tissue donation. If you can grow a heart by itself, go ahead. But I think the easiest way to go about it would to clone an entire human body, in which case it just becomes a crop. On the other hand, I have a problem with prohibiting knowledge, which this is basically doing. I don't know if I agree with someone being told that you cannot learn more about a subject. The benefits are certainly there, with hope for curing diseases, but I don't know if that's really worthwhile. I think people are quickly approaching a point where they live beyond what nature intended. I'm not so sure that getting rid of more diseases is the answer. I know it seems harsh to say that people need to die, but it's the cycle of life and it must happen sooner or later. I think that if we were more comfortable with death, we would not be so pressed to find cures for so many diseases. And yes, it is quite sad when a child has an incurable disease, but this too is part of life. So I guess if I had to pick a side, I'm against stem cell research.
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Sahara
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Posted: 03/25/05 - 23:27 Post subject:
I think the research universities in Washington state have a lot to gain both in knowledge and in monies.
| Quote: | | What's your thoughts on how George Bush restricted stem cell research? |
I think that Bush's decision was based upon both political and religious ideology. Because I tend toward believing that scientific research as being worthwhile (I said "tend to", not an absolute), I think that this research will ultimately be beneficial. I have not investigated the actual process of stem-cell research to have a strongly informed decision about the controversy surrounding it.
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copteacher
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Posted: 03/26/05 - 14:53 Post subject:
as long as embryos are not killed I am for it. Otherwise I cannot comment for lack of a lot of knowledge.
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youngrunner
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Posted: 03/26/05 - 17:44 Post subject:
| rtpd113 wrote: | | Otherwise I cannot comment for lack of a lot of knowledge. |
Does anyone want some links?
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rolling rock
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Posted: 03/26/05 - 19:50 Post subject:
you know, when my son was diagnosed in 1991, JDF christened the 90s as the decade for the cure...hello, we're still waiting and yawning.
this stem cell stuff is very promising research but i know at what a snail's pace reasearch moves -- i feel it is truly a viable cure option for many diseases, but i also believe it fills people with false hope who think once this bill is passed, or once stem cell research is fully funded, they will be cured within a year; that just isn't happening. but, it is a baby step in the right direction i suppose.
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genie
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Posted: 03/29/05 - 01:06 Post subject:
| youngrunner wrote: |
Does anyone want some links? |
If you please, yr.....that might help people decide which side of the fence they're on.
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Sahara
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Posted: 03/29/05 - 22:43 Post subject:
I'm not on the fence. It's simply not a relevant issue in my life so I don't currently care to spend my time looking into it. I do not object to stem cell research. I do not have ethical objections to it (which seems to be the crux of the controversy).
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phillycat
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Posted: 03/30/05 - 08:45 Post subject:
My good friend's father has had lymphoma since 98 and just got his second round of stem cells at HUP. He would have been dead a couple of years ago...now he is out playing golf, just saw his third grandchild be born and is looking forward to #4 in about a month.
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rolling rock
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Posted: 03/31/05 - 07:41 Post subject:
| phillycat wrote: | | My good friend's father has had lymphoma since 98 and just got his second round of stem cells at HUP. He would have been dead a couple of years ago...now he is out playing golf, just saw his third grandchild be born and is looking forward to #4 in about a month. |
and there you have it. 
more of this stuff needs to be "out there" -- credible stories of recovery and remission due to stem cells. for alot of people, it is mad science i think. alot of the far removed portion of the population who imagine it as hocus pocus let's grow another human being science. it truly is the way forward in spite of the moral and so-called ethical obstacles. it will save millions of lives in the years ahead.
the word "embryonic" carries such a negative connotation for the far right conservatives who have succesfully stomped this research in the US into the ground since clinton left office. to my understanding, the stem cells are taken from frozen embryos that couples have put "aside" for their future. when the couple has decided on their family, the potential embryos are then discarded. discarded. thrown away and with them, the potential for alot of very sick people to lead normal lives. the far right has run with this and said we're murdering human beings in our quest to cure a few diabetics. it's become a political game, again, and it turns my stomach to think that my son and hundreds of thousands of kids like him, will forever lead comprimised lives, shortened lives due to some conservative in congress who just can "get over" the embryonic status of these very valuable human cells.
excuse me if i sound bitter, but i can bet my last dollar that mr. bush would change his opinion of this research if he saw one of his kids, just once, inject their abdomen with a syringe full of insulin. he'd change his conservative mind if he, just once, saw them fall face down into their plate of food at the mall food court cuz their blood sugar had fallen thru the floor. he's too "far removed" let it hit home and i have a feeling his interest in stem cell research would be the first thing on his presidential agenda.
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TOsteve
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Posted: 03/31/05 - 09:39 Post subject:
| rolling rock wrote: |
and there you have it.
more of this stuff needs to be "out there" -- credible stories of recovery and remission due to stem cells. for alot of people, it is mad science i think. alot of the far removed portion of the population who imagine it as hocus pocus let's grow another human being science. it truly is the way forward in spite of the moral and so-called ethical obstacles. it will save millions of lives in the years ahead.
the word "embryonic" carries such a negative connotation for the far right conservatives who have succesfully stomped this research in the US into the ground since clinton left office. to my understanding, the stem cells are taken from frozen embryos that couples have put "aside" for their future. when the couple has decided on their family, the potential embryos are then discarded. discarded. thrown away and with them, the potential for alot of very sick people to lead normal lives. the far right has run with this and said we're murdering human beings in our quest to cure a few diabetics. it's become a political game, again, and it turns my stomach to think that my son and hundreds of thousands of kids like him, will forever lead comprimised lives, shortened lives due to some conservative in congress who just can "get over" the embryonic status of these very valuable human cells.
excuse me if i sound bitter, but i can bet my last dollar that mr. bush would change his opinion of this research if he saw one of his kids, just once, inject their abdomen with a syringe full of insulin. he'd change his conservative mind if he, just once, saw them fall face down into their plate of food at the mall food court cuz their blood sugar had fallen thru the floor. he's too "far removed" let it hit home and i have a feeling his interest in stem cell research would be the first thing on his presidential agenda.
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Well said.
Don't get me wrong, there should be checks and balances in place to protect humankind from being irresponsible with scientific discovery. Who knows what kind of weapons technology is being developed in government funded research facilities right now. The potential for the immoral use of this kind of technology has to at least be on par with the possibility of human cloning. And its a lot more plausible that weapons technology will be used for immoral causes.
The debate over stem cell research is probably a political smokescreen as much as anything. It creates the illusion of scientific responsibility, when there are areas where our governments are being flagrantly irresponsible. Unfortunately, the smokescreen is created at the expense of legitmate medical research.
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sonnylax
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Posted: 03/31/05 - 12:07 Post subject: Re: Stem cell research
| youngrunner wrote: | | What's your thoughts on how George Bush restricted stem cell research? |
He didn't restrict it. He just restricted the US Federal funding of it. There is a difference there.
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rolling rock
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Posted: 03/31/05 - 13:49 Post subject: Re: Stem cell research
| sonnylax wrote: |
He didn't restrict it. He just restricted the US Federal funding of it. There is a difference there. |
geo bush restricted the hell out of stem cell research....his administration approved 11 lines of stem cells, derived before 2001, to be used for stem cell research. 11 lines that are practically all crapped out now, and they are not "genetically diverse" so they actually do no good in helping the diverse population. the cell needs to be embryonic due to it's blank slate nature. bush approves using "adult" stem cells....ones that have already been programed by the body to to their thing; basically they're useless but the US continues to pour countless millions into this NOT RELEVANT line of research...we are dumping millions down the drain on adult lines...they do NO GOOD.
geo bush believes that the destruction of human embryonic cells can never be justified, even if it saves millions of lives and hundreds of billions of taxpayers dollars. never be justified. there are about 400,000 available embryonic stem cell lines in the US which have been donated by parents with their written consent with no financial consideration given whatsoever. the bush adm will not permit these lines to be used for research as they are "embryonic" and the destruction of these cells is destroying human life. screw the money sonny, he has stomped on this research in the United States allowing his own puritanical standard DICTATE what happens to a ba-zillion people in the nation.
the US is losing ground to other countries in the world who are moving ahead with this line of research; at this point we will never catch up and those stem cell lines will inevitably wind up literally being flushed down a drain somewhere. that makes me sick.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25071-2004Aug22.html
http://www.jdrf.org/files/About_JDRF/StemCellPositionPaper092003.pdf
editing to say that if anyone can find a link updating the geo bush adm's policy on the 11 open lines, (if he has given the go to increase this number) please post it. it would do my body good to read that.
Last edited by rolling rock on 03/31/05 - 19:24; edited 1 time in total
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thegman
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Posted: 03/31/05 - 14:26 Post subject:
| rolling rock wrote: |
he's too "far removed" let it hit home and i have a feeling his interest in stem cell research would be the first thing on his presidential agenda.
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Apparently not.
It already has hit home for him, or at least should have. He lost his sister to leukemia when he was rather young.
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rolling rock
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Posted: 04/01/05 - 07:25 Post subject:
| thegman wrote: |
Apparently not.
It already has hit home for him, or at least should have. He lost his sister to leukemia when he was rather young. |
yeah, you would think so.
but then again, maybe not. 
i need to excuse myself from this issue, it's just to relevant to my own life for me to have an unbiased opinion. i would appreciate any links YR.
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