Even MSM Admits: Embryonic Stem Cell Research Unnecessary - Diabetes and Stem Cell Research in South Dakota

Even MSM Admits: Embryonic Stem Cell Research Unnecessary

March 6th, 2009
By Bob Ellis
Dakota Voice

You know the case for embryonic stem cell research is weak if even a liberal publication like US News & World Report is starting to come clean on the issue.

For those who may not be knowledgeable on the issue–or who may have been misled by the massive amounts of propaganda out there–there are several types of stem cell research.

On one side (the side that results in the destruction of innocent human life in pursuit of this avenue of research), the embryonic type involves the harvesting of stem cells from human embryos. The harvesting process destroys these embryonic humans–something unconscionable to those who value innocent human life. In addition to this moral problem, embryonic stem cells involve problems with rejection as seen with organ transplant recipients. They also have a tendency to generate tumors in the recipient.

Adult stem cell research, on the other hand, involves the harvesting of stem cells from a person’s own body (skin, nasal tissue, dental tissue, etc.) which is then reprogrammed and injected into a sick or injured part of the body to stimulate repairs. Somewhere between 70 and 80 successful therapies have been developed so far to treat things such as brain injury, stroke, retina regeneration, heart tissue regeneration, angina, diabetes, bone cancer, nerve regeneration, cerebral palsy, cartilage regeneration, Parkinsons, kidney damage, liver cancer, lupus, multiple sclerosis, leukemia and more.

There are still more sources for stem cells which do not involve the destruction of innocent human life such as umbilical cord blood which can be taken after the successful birth of a child.

Despite the tremendous gains in non-destructive stem cell sources, some people insist on destroying innocent human life in pursuit of embryonic stem cells.

But as Dr. Bernadine Healy, MD, points out in US News & World Report, such positions are looking more and more extreme with each passing week.

Even for strong backers of embryonic stem cell research, the decision is no longer as self-evident as it was, because there is markedly diminished need for expanding these cell lines for either patient therapy or basic research. In fact, during the first six weeks of Obama’s term, several events reinforced the notion that embryonic stem cells, once thought to hold the cure for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and diabetes, are obsolete. The most sobering: a report from Israel published in PLoS Medicine in late February that shows embryonic stem cells injected into patients can cause disabling if not deadly tumors.

Despite the ovewhelming evidence against embryonic stem cell research, and the overwhelming evidence for adult stem cell research, President Barack Obama insists on overturning the ban on taxpayer funding for ESC research. That action is planned for Monday.

May God have mercy on us for going down this unnecessary road of inhumanity.

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