A Plea for Stem Cell Research

By: Phil Alito

Posted: 11/2/04

With all of the media attention devoted to the war in Iraq, it is safe to say that many important issues have been able to slip beneath the radar screen. One such issue is President Bush's choice to block government funding of stem cell research, effectively preventing medical advancement. Stem cells are cells that theoretically can divide without limit and have the potential to develop into any cell type, including such specialized ones as nerve and muscle cells. Stem cell research offers significant chances at helping countless human problems not limited to Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's Disease, spinal cord injuries, stroke, severe burns, heart disease, diabetes, and osteoarthritis. Harold Varmus, Director of the National Institutes of Health at the time of stem-cell research's conception said, "It is not too unrealistic to say that this research has the potential to revolutionize the practice of medicine and improve the quality and length of life. There is almost no realm of medicine that might not be touched by this innovation."

Stem cells are isolated from 5-7 day old blastocytes, killing the embryo in the process and creating a moral dilemma for some. A common source of these embryonic stem cells are surplus embryos that are a byproduct of the activities of in vitro fertilization labs. Though these days old embryos may be genetically human at this point, it possesses none of the characteristics of humanity such as self awareness- it is merely a small cluster of cells.

Stem cell research has been opposed on the basis that it is immoral to create human life simply for the sake of destroying it and that these day old blastocytes are in fact life. Some opposing groups conjure up sci-fi like images of raising hordes of humans for the sole purpose of harvesting their organs. Stem cell research should be conducted under rigorous moral guidelines, however it should still be allowed to progress. It is important to note that there are many staunch anti-abortionists who support stem cell research; this is a separate issue. However, on either side of this debate people agree that this is a life or death issue. One Lou Gehrig's disease sufferer argued at a news conference, ""Mr. President, you are presented with a choice. Your choice is about different things to different people. All view points deserving respect, all view points founded in the love of life. In the life I love here, this is what your decision means to me. You have the choice to be pro-life for an un-implanted frozen embryo that will be discarded or pro-life for me. Members of Congress and President Bush, I am asking you to choose me."

On August 9th, 2001, three years after Dr. James Thompson of the University of Wisconsin developed the technique to isolate and grow stem cells, President Bush announced that federal funding would be available for the existing 78 lines because the life/death issue had already been decided with these cells and they are theoretically eternal. Though this concession has allowed minimal research to continue, there are currently only 19 remaining lines available and these are contaminated with mouse feeder cells making their relevance to human disease questionable. Due to complication and contamination, all existing cell lines will soon be essentially useless to human research. Federal policy must be changed in order to allow for the advancement of science and the alleviation of human suffering,

Michael J. Fox, who himself suffers from Parkinson's, remarks on the Presidents policy of allowing federal funding for existing lines as follows, " Bush has so restricted the stem cell lines available to us that it was kind of like he gave us a car and no gas and then congratulated himself on giving us the car." President Bush has stated that he does not plan to change the laws, even in light of the fact that the degradation of the existing stem cell lines will soon cease to allow any progress.

Ronald Reagan's death on June 8th, 2004 after a long and public struggle with Alzheimer's created a resurgence of public interest in stem cell research. Nancy Reagan and her family have been very outspoken in their criticism of the President's stance on the issue. Following the death of Reagan, 58 senators, including Senator John Kerry, signed a petition asking the President to relax federal restrictions in honor of Reagan's struggle with Alzheimer's. The President refused.

Senator John Kerry has spoken out numerous times in favor of stem cell research and on October 4th, 2004 said "this underscores, in my judgment, the perils of having the president who turns his back on science in favor of ideology and as a result abandon's millions of American's hopes."

There are well over 100 million Americans who could potentially benefit from stem cell research if it is permitted. I find it hard to imagine that alleviating the suffering of millions of people is not justified. The destruction of a few cells created by the left-overs from in-vitro fertilization clinics seems a small price to pay for the potential to raise the standard of living for so many sick Americans. President Bush will continue to obstruct the progress of stem cell research and prolong the suffering of millions whereas Senator Kerry will work towards a policy with high bioethical standards that will still allow for the progress of science.