Embryonic Stem Cells: Medical Fraud
With the Congress trying to ram through an embryonic stem cell bill, it may be helpful for those who are not familiar with stem cells to go over the topic.
The first thing everyone needs to realize, and that will be largely ignored by the media, is that there are two types of stem cells: embryonic and adult. The difference, in theory, is that adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells that will develop in one direction, that is lung stem cells can become lung tissue, brain stem cells can become regular brain tissue, etc. Embryonic stem cells, again in theory, are what is called "pluripotent" -- they can be developed into any type of human tissue.
For this reason, a number of influential financiers and their political allies have latched onto embryonic stem cells as the technology of the future.
However, embryonic stem cells are not what they're trumpeted as. Forget the miracle cures for paralysis, cancer, brain injury, baldness, etc. The only thing embryonic stem cells have produced, and seem likely to produce, is tumors. Test after test has had the same result.
The second problem is that embryonic stem cells also have all the dangers of ordinary tissue transplants. Embryonic stem cells by their nature are not compatible with recipients, who must receive immunosuppressant drugs and face the likelihood of tissue rejection.
The third problem is that the only way around the second problem is to create a clone of the patient and kill it for the stem cells. Slow down and consider this: For embryonic stem cells to even have a chance of being useful requires the breeding of human beings for parts!
Fourth problem: You can mince words about embryos not being human all you want, but you'd be wrong. A human embryo is not a rock, not a bird, not a fish, and none of those things could ever become a human, ergo: A human embryo is a human at its earliest, most fragile state. Cloning is the creating of a class of human beings for a purpose over which they have no say. If there is any other requirement for slavery, I've not heard it. So embryonic stem cell research requires de facto slavery.
Now, for the issue of adult stem cells, which are being ignored by Congress, by Hollywood, and by the press.
One: They can be derived from any patient requiring treatment without injury. Adult stem cells have even been found in human fat!
Two: Adult stem cells have been changed into the more useful "pluripotent" type in laboratory experiments.
Three: There is no risk of rejection as the patient is treated with his own tissues, modified.
Four: Adult stem cells have been used for years to treat actual diseases and injuries and have worked. Embryonic stem cells were only discovered about half a dozen years ago (right before Bush came into office).
So to sum up: Embryonic stem cells are dangerous, don't work, require the breeding of de facto slaves for parts. Adult stem cells are not dangerous, have been working for years and are free of ethical dilemma.
So which gets the support? The dangerous, unproven, morally reprehensible research, of course.
You may wonder why. My guess is there are a lot of well-connected financiers who were conned onto the embryonic stem cell wagon without doing their research, and now they're trying to recoup their losses by having the government fund their projects, with the support of Hollywood.
In California, an unmonitored, multibillion-dollar Stem Cell Institute was created through the efforts of Treasurer Phil Angelides and some of his friends by means of a deceptive ballot initiative. Now Angelides sits on the board that controls this unregulated money. I think the institute was designed to give Angelides his own empire, and I for one will be watching if the institute starts contributing to his gubernatorial campaign and eventual presidential run. So far, the money's been tied up in court.
President Bush will be absolutely right in vetoing Congress' embryonic stem cell bill. It's the right thing morally, scientifically and financially.
Source: www.ezinearticles.com
