Christian Doctors Group Urges Congress to Invest in Adult Stem Cells
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 30, 2004
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — When Ron Reagan used a Democratic convention speech to call for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, he failed to mention what many scientists feel is a more effective method to help cure or reduce the effects of debilitating diseases — adult stem cell research.
That’s why a group of Christian doctors is calling on Congress to fund research involving the use of adult stem cells.
Over 2,000 doctors who are members of the Christian Medical Assoication signed a letter sent to members of Congress on Friday, "urging investment in adult stem cell research that is already providing therapies for patients."
"As the nation’s largest faith-based organization of physicians, we have a vested interest in such research because we care for patients every day who desperately need cures that might arise from regenerative medicine," explains CMA director Dr. David Stevens.
The CMA letter noted that human embryonic stem cells have proven difficult to develop and maintain, are unstable and mutate in culture, often act abnormally and tend to form cancerous tumors
It also focused on the successes adult stem cells have had in clinical trials.
"Verified accomplishments of adult (non-embryonic) stem cell research are already providing hope and therapy for patients suffering from heart muscle injury, diabetes and brain damage from stroke–with realistic promise for treating other diseases on the horizon," the CMA doctors wrote.
Stevens said members of his group "reviewed the literature over the last three years since President Bush’s policy was initialized and have found that he made the right choice."
"The government needs to put taxpayers’ money into ethical research that will get us the most affordable cures for our patients in the quickest time," Stevens said.
Stevens said that the kind of unproven research Reagan called for would exploit women.
"Cloning human beings for stem cells–as Ron Reagan, Jr. urged in his convention speech Tuesday–would produce abnormal embryonic stem cells while exploiting women to gain the millions of human eggs needed for human cloning," Stevens explained.
Related web site:
CMA letter – https://www.cmdahome.org/index.cgi?CONTEXT=art&art=2704
Christian Medical Association – https://www.cmdahome.org
