FRC's David Christensen writes today at National Review Online about ethical stem cell research:
Living, breathing people who have been treated by stem cells — some who would have otherwise died — are signs of the great hope of stem-cell research. Take Doug Rice, a bear of a man who was told he had months to live because of heart disease, yet after being treated with his own blood stem cells, his heart function is almost normal. Then there’s Dave Foege who also received the same treatment for his ailing heart, after his doctors had sent him home to hospice. And accident victim Jacki Rabon can walk with the aid of braces after she had her own nasal stem cells injected into her spinal-cord injury. Carol Franz is an incredible woman who suffered from multiple myeloma, a bone cancer, until she had her bone-marrow stem cells transplanted. Stephen Sprague has been free from leukemia after having a cord blood stem cell transplant. And Keone Penn no longer has sickle-cell anemia after receiving a cord-blood stem-cell transplant...
Comments (2)
Mr Christensen
Your article is right on the money!
I suffer from severe emphysema. I was told by the doctor there was nothing else they could for me. So I went to another country April 2007 and received a stem cell transplant. It costs lots of money but I am already seeing improvements in my breathing and being able to use my oxygen less than I did before.
While I was at this clinic for treatment there were 4 other Americans seeking treatment for MS, Lou Gehrig's disease and spinal cord injuries.
Why are they fighting about embryonic stem cells when they have cured nothing? The research into adult stem cells and umbilical cord stem cells continues in other countries. Meanwhile, Americans are dying and suffering due to politics.
June 7, 2007 7:02 PM | Comment Permalink
That is... not safe. Stem cell treatment for anything is still a long way from ready for use outside of clinical trials, its just not safe. Even the well-behaved cells have a tendency to go cancerous. They should be putting it off, at least for a couple of years.
"Why are they fighting about embryonic stem cells when they have cured nothing?"
Potential to cure a lot, given sufficient investment.
June 9, 2007 5:31 PM | Comment Permalink