Christian M.D.: Stem-Cell Research Measure's Wording Misleads Missouri Voters
by Mary Rettig
November 3, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A Christian obstetrician in Missouri is speaking out against Amendment 2 in his state, saying the measure, also known as the "Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative," is deceptively worded even on the ballot.Dr. Russ Dieterich, M.D., heads the Missouri task force for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA). He says the description of Amendment 2 that is on the state ballot is only about a paragraph long and is followed by bullet points, which are supposed to explain the nearly 2,200-word amendment.
Dieterich says one of those bullet points states that the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative is on human cloning. And in the pages that follow, he contends, "there are multiple examples of deception," including some misdirection concerning the very definition of human cloning.
The state task force spokesman says supporters of the controversial stem-cell research measure "have taken the scientific definition of human cloning away from this amendment and inserted their own definition." That issue was taken all the way to the Missouri Supreme Court, he points out; but the state high court upheld the wording, saying it was consistent with itself throughout.
Much of the hype and debate surrounding Amendment 2 has been about embryonic stem-cell research versus adult stem-cell research. However, Dieterich notes, "That is not what this amendment is about, because embryonic and adult stem-cell research are going on in the state of Missouri at this time. And, whether this amendment passes or fails, that research will continue to go on."
What is important, the CMDA-member physician explains, is that Amendment 2 will allow somatic cell nuclear transfer. And all that is, he asserts, is a euphemism for cloning. Although one of the bullet points on the Missouri ballot claims the measure will ban human cloning, the Christian doctor insists that is not true.
Amendment 2 does permit cloning, Dieterich contends; the only thing it prohibits, he says, is the implantation of a cloned embryo into a woman's womb. In other words, the obstetrician says, this ballot measure is doing a very good job of deceiving voters into approving human cloning.
Mary Rettig, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
