Stem Cell Debate

I'm taking a break from my normal posts to voice something I feel very strongly about. Bush has an incredibly large decision on his shoulders: should we use stem cells of human embryos for research? YES! YES! YES! Embryonic stem cell research is necessary to aid in finding a cure for diseases such as Huntington's, ALS, Parkinson's, etc. So what is the debate if it will help cure all of these diseases? Many feel that using embryos for this research is a form of abortion. Oh lord, here we go. As most of you know I am strongly pro-choice. BUT I don't even see this as a form of abortion.

Here is a good quote from Christopher Reeve: ""Is it more ethical for a woman to donate unused embryos that will never become human beings, or to let them be tossed away as so much garbage when they could help save thousands of lives? While we prolong the stem-cell debate, millions continue to suffer. "

Exactly. Call me selfish on this issue, maybe I am. My life is at risk for Huntington's disease. My future could be dependent on stem cell research. Though I am not the only one. Every disease that affects the brain will benefit from this research. That will affect millions, possibly a billion people worldwide. But according to those right wing religious fanatics, I will go to hell if I support this. Fine, send me to hell. I am willing to go there for this cause. I have seen so many lives ruined by Huntington's disease. I won't stand for it anymore.

So Bush has this tough decision on his shoulders. The man can barely put a sentence together and all of these lives are put in his hands. Again, I say lordy. I know Clinton would have known what to do in this situation. We need to help push him in the right direction. This is a letter written by the HDSA to President Bush. Personal letters are also encouraged. I know I will be writing mine this weekend. Please take the time to read this and put some thought into this issue.

July 18, 2001

President George W. Bush

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington, D.C. 20502

Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research

Dear President Bush,

The Board of Trustees of the Huntington's Disease Society of America have authorized and directed us to write you to urge your

support for federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited degenerative brain disorder that slowly robs the affected individual of the ability to

perform the most basic of activities--to walk, talk, think, and reason. It affects about 30,000 Americans, with about 150,000

more directly at risk. HD usually strikes during the prime of life, but symptoms and age of onset vary from individual to

individual, and it can attack in childhood or in old age. The gene whose mutation causes HD has been identified, but there is no

effective therapy. The person with HD--and his or her family--often suffer through years of emotional and cognitive problems that

can be more difficult to deal with than the movement disorder. Each child watching his or her parent suffer knows that he or she

also has a fifty percent chance of inheriting HD.

HDSA is committed to making this the last generation with HD. But to make good on our promise to our families and ourselves, we

need to know more about the origin and development of HD at the cell level. Human embryonic stem cell research holds the

potential for the creation of cells, which will help us understand HD at the cellular level, and screen for possible drugs that

might block the disease process. Most remarkably, human embryonic stem cell research offers the hope for the development of

therapy to actually replace the degenerating nerve cells--and potentially restore the functions lost as brain tissue atrophies.

Furthermore, the hope of scientists is that this research will prove beneficial to the many millions of sufferers from Alzheimer's

disease, Parkinson's disease, Diabetes, and other conditions.

Our scientists tell us that it is not likely that stem cells derived from adult tissues will have the same research and

therapeutic potential as cells derived from early embryos. Federal

funding, and Federal oversight--either by NIH guidelines, or federal law--will help ensure that researchers can explore the many

promises of human embryonic stem cell research, with appropriate guidelines to address the admittedly difficult legal, social and

ethical issues raised by this important research tool.

With each passing day, the HD gene destroys a bit more of the brain, and the individuality, of the person with HD. Our families,

and the families of individuals suffering from other neurodegenerative diseases, do not have time to wait. Human embryonic stem

cell research holds the potential of accelerating our search, and bringing closer the day we can fulfill our promise of making

this the last generation with HD.

We respectfully request that you support the federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research.

Sincerely yours,

Donald A. King, Ph.D. Barbara T. Boyle

Chair, Board of Trustees National Executive Director/CEO