New Findings Support Pro-Lifer Calls for Non-Embryonic Stem-Cell Research
by Jim Brown and Jenni Parker
January 10, 2007
(AgapePress) - - An opponent of embryonic stem-cell research says a new report from U.S. scientists revealing the presence of pluripotent stem cells in amniotic fluid offers confirmation of what pro-life groups have been saying for years -- that is, that advancing medical knowledge does not require the destruction of human embryos. Researchers with Wake Forest University Medical School and Harvard Medical School have reported that they were able to extract stem cells from amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women and then turn the cells into several different tissue cell types including brain, liver, and bone tissue cells (see related story).
Pro-life, pro-family, and medical ethics groups are jointly hailing the new stem-cell study, the findings of which suggest these non-embryonic stem cells derived from amniotic fluid show great potential for usefulness in treating disease. Pro-life advocate Mark Crutcher, founder and president of Life Dynamics Incorporated, says he and other pro-lifers have been trying for years to get the message across that it is not necessary to kill a living human being in order to achieve benefits in medical science. "This just proves that we're right," he contends.
Crutcher says he finds it interesting that in the past the medical science community has not been able to demonstrate even "one single scientific breakthrough using embryonic stem cells." All the breakthroughs that have taken place in therapeutic use of stem cells to treat disease have come through use of adult stem cells, he points out -- not through embryonic stem-cell research, or ESCR.
"And yet," the Life Dynamics spokesman observes, "the medical community and the media have been pushing embryonic stem cells as the be-all and end-all." That is something he doubts will change, even in the wake of this latest research out of Harvard and Wake Forest University Medical School. (See earlier story)
Crutcher says the new research findings will not likely deter efforts by House Democrats to pass legislation expanding federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. These pro-ESCR lawmakers continue to tout embryonic stem-cell research, he says, even though these ethically problematic studies have yielded no cures for disease and have shown no likelihood of doing so in the near future.
But despite these facts, House Democrats "continue to push embryonic stem cells; and so there has to be some other agenda at play here," Crutcher asserts. "And when you look at -- in this case -- the Democratic Party, which is completely owned -- lock, stock, and barrel -- by the abortion lobby in this country," the pro-life advocate says, "you have to start looking at what the hidden agenda may be" -- particularly, he adds, when the liberal lawmakers "continue to push things that have shown absolutely no promise for success."
Dobson: Media Finally Getting the Message About Non-Embryonic Stem Cells
Meanwhile, Focus on the Family Action chairman Dr. James Dobson believes the new stem-cell study has become front page news precisely because the mainstream media has not previously told the truth about how promising non-embryonic stem-cell research is. "Instead, they've chosen to put their emphasis on promoting research that kills human beings in their tiniest form," he says.
"Hopefully," Dobson comments, "the facts that were brought to the fore [in the Harvard-Wake Forest researchers' report] will influence the members of the House of Representatives to reject the expansion of federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research when the legislation comes up for a vote this week." Because of the new research, the pro-family leader asserts, a tremendous opportunity now exists for "those of us who hold pro-life views to call for uncompromising support of research using sources that do not imperil preborn life."
After all, the Focus on the Family Action spokesman emphasizes, "there are no clinical trials anywhere in the world where embryonic stem cells are being used in patients." On the contrary, he notes, research using cells from non-embryonic sources such as bone marrow and umbilical cord blood have been used to treat at least 70 conditions. And now, Dobson adds, "similar therapies may be developed using cells from amniotic fluid."
The Christian Medical Association, America's largest faith-based association of doctors, is also hoping the stem-cell research findings reported this week will influence U.S. lawmakers, especially since Congress is currently considering legislation that parallels a bill previously vetoed by President Bush -- a bill that would provide federal sanction for destroying human embryos.
Congress Asked to Respect Sanctity of Life, Fund Ethical Research
Dr. David Stevens, CEO of the Christian Medical Association, says his group is encouraging all members of Congress "to uphold respect for life while maximizing the investment of American tax dollars by investing in proven and promising stem-cell research that does not violate the conscience of many Americans." The medical science community has learned that the ethical route to stem cells is also the most effective and most promising route, he notes.
"We have long known that unlike human embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have been proven effective in treating ... dozens of diseases," Stevens explains. But on the other hand, he says, "We have long known that human embryonic stem cells are notoriously unstable and tend to form tumors."
And now the Harvard-Wake Forest research has discovered that stem cells derived from a baby's placenta and amniotic fluid appear to hold the same tissue-building potential once thought exclusive to human embryonic stem cells, the CMDA physician notes. He believes lawmakers owe it to U.S. taxpayers to take this new information into consideration.
"Americans' resources should be used for ethical, effective and promising stem-cell research that does not violate ethical standards by killing human embryos," Stevens emphasizes. He says the Christian Medical Association has publicly urged U.S. members of Congress to devote healthcare dollars to funding ethical, non-embryonic stem-cell research.
