I know that this may make waves, but I found the fact that Judge Royce Lamberth in Washington had overruled the president’s support of stem cell research so upsetting. With so many people needing to find a cure for their illnesses and so many scientists so close to finding solutions for some of the world’s biggest medical problems, can we really afford this now? Of course we want to defend the moral right of cells, just as they start to generate a baby, but then you think about the value of an existing human life compared to a potential one and it becomes a tricky discussion point.
The rest of the world is doing stem cell research, which means that the people of the US are not going to be able to benefit from the discoveries, which will help our economy and our world.
What is your take on this?
(Maybe holidaying is turning me into a political-minded guy? Back to ‘Ask Vicente’s’ for now…)
#1 by Karena on August 31, 2010 - 1:30 pm
I am also disturbed by this ruling. Vicente many scientists here in Kanas City are working on this research, The Stowers Institute for example. So many cures to be found…..
Karena
Art by Karena
#2 by Nathalie on August 31, 2010 - 3:30 pm
I completely agree. Seems like several steps back to me. Not sure how it could be portrayed as a ‘rational or reasonable’ decision.
#3 by melissa on August 31, 2010 - 5:22 pm
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT GO OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS… INDIA IS A GOOD EXAMPLE… MUCH CHEAPER.. WITH REALLY GOOD DOCTORS… WE ARE FORCED TO LOOK ELSE WHERE… ONCE A MONTH THERE ARE ABORTION PROTESTERS HERE???? AS, LONG AS WOMEN NEED ABORTIONS THEY WILL BE AVALIABLE, SO I IMAGINE THAT THAT IS WHERE THEY ARE GETTING THE STEM CELLS AND FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, PEOPLE ARE FREAKED OUT IN GENERAL WITH THAT SUBJECT???? I PERSONALLY WOULD WANT MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER TO HAVE THE CHOICE AND THEN FOR THE STEM CELLS TO BE USED FOR RESEARCH…
XXOO
MELISSA
#4 by Gary Nelling on August 31, 2010 - 5:58 pm
Our country was founded on the principle of a separation of church and state. A person is free to believe what they choose, but not to impose it on others. Evolution is a scientific fact. Creationism is a religious belief that should be confined to Sunday schools, not public schools. Not all stem cells are reproductive. They should not be part of any debate or litigation. There can be an honest debate about the nature of fertilized embryonic cells as life or potential life, but if it is legal to freeze or discard them, it is illogical to ban their medical uses. But of course logic is not a factor for those whose religious interpretations trump all other considerations. – Gary
#5 by EM on August 31, 2010 - 7:08 pm
Congress does not have the right to interpret a law–that is the job of our court system. So, even though Congress has acted one way for the past decade, that does not negate its legality when the issue finally gets heard in the courts.
#6 by La Maison Fou on September 1, 2010 - 2:10 pm
Vincente,
Interesting topic, yours is the right to speak freely and everyone is indeed allowed to their choice.
I myself need much more educating on the subject, I have enjoyed reading some of your older posts.
Great blog.
L.
#7 by Gretchen on September 1, 2010 - 4:41 pm
One judge can’t stop something this huge. The train has already left the station.
#8 by Patricia on September 4, 2010 - 12:23 pm
I live in the beautiful colonial city of San Miguel de Allende, in the heart of Mexico. We have stem cell therapy here (shipped from Switzerland) for a fraction of the cost any where else. Check it out. It helped my husband and I a great deal when we did it over 20 days last year.
#9 by Laura Casey Interiors on October 9, 2010 - 11:27 pm
Vicente, I am reading every single post and must comment on this. I lost my best friend of twenty years to ALS two years ago. She battled this horrible disease for five years. I wish there was more advocacy for stem cell research. Thank you for posting this.