Mich. stem cell research makes ballot, causes mixed reactions
By Katie Koerner (Last updated: 07/08/08 11:29pm)A proposal to allow stem cell research will be on Michigan’s November ballot, causing a variety of reactions within the state according to CureMichigan.
Larry Owen, chairman of CureMichigan, a group working to amend Michigan’s constitution and end the state’s ban on stem cell research, said it’s time to bring Michigan into the 21st century in regards to stem cell research.
The group received more than 570,000 petition signatures, a record number in Michigan’s history for a single issue, Owen said.
However, David Doyle, spokesman for Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science and Experimentation, said that this proposal is deceptive and was drafted to intentionally mislead voters.
“Stem cell research has been going on in Michigan for years,” Doyle said. “If the proposal is passed, it will allow for unregulated, unrestricted and experimentation on human embryos.”
Currently, excess embryos from procedures such as in-vitro fertilization are discarded as medical waste. If the proposal is passed, however, people will be given a choice to donate their excess embryos for research.
“Due to our state’s law we have to throw (embryos) in the trash can,” Owen said. “Now we are giving voters a chance to decided if they want to keep throwing them away, or use them to save lives.”
Saving lives is one aspect of stem cell research that MSU graduate student, Dave Gobben, said needs to be further explored.
“I think (doing research) is a good idea, and it is an area that has a lot of potential,” Gobben said.
Human cloning is another issue brought up with stem cell research – something Doyle said also concerns him.
“Although (the proposal) states that it will not alter the current law that bans human cloning, several bills involving cloning have already been introduced in the Michigan Legislature,” Doyle said. “We want people to read the fine print, and realize if this proposal is passed, it will also permit the legalization of human cloning.”
For this reason, East Lansing resident Clara Smith said she does not approve of stem cell research and said she is disappointed it is now on the ballot.
“I think it’s just like abortion,” Smith said. “It’s killing something that is a living thing just so we can use it for medical studies I think that’s just wrong.”
Jim Potchen, chairman of MSU’s Department of Radiology said the proposal has no intentions of legalizing human cloning, and will be used to conduct research for the treatment and cure for diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, cancer and Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“This is an enormous potential resource that can make a great deal of difference to a lot of diseases we now term as incurable,” Potchen said. “Cloning is irrational, but it is equally irrational to throw embryos away.”
Originally Published: 07/08/08 11:25pm
Steve
07/09/08 5:12amI think we should let more sick people die. There is no need to try to develop more treatments and do research on stem cells. Obviously it is more important that we savior a lifeless chunk of cells than people that are actually living just to satisfy all the religious nutcases of Michigan.
Don C. Reed
07/09/08 8:41amAs the father of a paralyzed young man, Roman Reed, I would like to thank Michigan for your efforts to advance stem cell research.
Christopher Reeve once said, in a personal letter our family will always cherish, “One day,Roman and I will stand up from our wheelchairs, and walk away from them forever.”
Our champion did not live enough to see that great dream come true.
But Michigan just took a step forward toward that goal.
Thank you, so much.
Don C. Reed
www.stemcellbattles.com
Debbie
07/09/08 12:01pmI love how Clara Smith thinks that using the embryos for research is worse then throwing them in the trash. Quality thinking there.
Candice
07/09/08 1:18pmWhile stem cell research yields great possibilities in advancing medicine, it could be dangerous in that if it is unregulated, people might take unorthodox approaches to harvesting these “thrown away” embryos. That is what most people I’ve talked to fear the most. Therefore if there is extremely tight regulation on how the embryos are acquired, then I think that there will be much less controversy regarding the issue.
Pam
07/09/08 4:09pmSomething doesn’t fit. Human embryonic stem cell research is going on now in Michigan at the U of M. Michigan Couples can donate left over embryos after fertility treatments to research now — does it really matter Ann Arbor or Madison? What’s this proposal really about?
Michael
07/10/08 11:03pmI’m not sure about Michigan, but in the Big Pharma state of NJ there is little private investment in embryonic stem cell research. I doubt that Michigan is any different since it hasn’t cured any humans of anything yet (last I heard). The lack of private investment speaks volumes and shows that this bill is thinly veiled corporate welfare which is more about hype than hope.
Mary A. Hamilton
07/11/08 3:00pmCureMI.org explains the proposal more clearly, and includes videos from JAMA and more showing how conditions like T1 Diabetes & MS are currently being treated w/patient’s own stem cells, how they are regrowing organs (8 wks for bladder), regenerating limbs, and more.
Embryonic stem cells are all but obsolete. They are unlikely for therapies because they form tumors and are rejected by subject.
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LvB
07/12/08 1:33amNazi medicine such as being proposed by this ballot initiative must be stopped. Read Dr. Rascher’s letter asking permission of Himmler to experiment on Jewish prisoners who ‘were going to die anyway’! Dr. Rascher of Dachau and Dr. Mengele of Auschwitz just wanted to help cure people, too. You may not kill some human beings (yes, humans in the embryonic stage are also humans; we were all once embryos), in order to try to help others.
Dem
07/19/08 5:40pmI think Clara Smith needs a brain transplant
because obviously her thinking is not helping anybody.
Hope she dies of cancer or a heart attack. For the
hopeful others,I hope stem cell research provides
alternatives to live healthier, longer lives.