President Barack Obama’s reversal on embryonic stem cell research gives no guarantees to ailing Americans, but pro-abortion and anti-life powers support the decision.
The federal funding ban for embryonic research was lifted March 9 by Obama. Obama’s move requires the public to pay for unproven research on embryonic stem cells.
“I cannot guarantee that we will find the treatments and cures that we seek,” Obama said.
The controversial issue at hand is that to obtain embryonic stem cells, day-old embryos must be destroyed to obtain the cells.
No life should be sacrificed out of hope for the miracle cure.
Pro-life organizations regard the destruction of the blastocyst, which is a laboratory-fertilized human egg, to be the murder of human life.
One of the most outspoken stem cell opponents in Congress labeled Obama the “abortion president.” Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., accused Obama of attacking pro-life measures in this country. He stated that there are better alternatives than embryonic stem cell research.
Embryonic stem cells are master cells that can shape into any cell of the body. Scientists hope to obtain them so they can create replacement tissue to treat different diseases.
Embryonic stem cell research is morally unacceptable, but this is not the only danger.
Embryonic stem cells have caused tumors and growths on lab animals.
There are no embryonic stem cells being used anywhere in the world on humans besides one unfortunate exception. In Moscow, a young boy who was treated with embryonic stem cells for a rare genetic disease developed spinal and brain tumors. Israeli doctors removed the tumors from the young man’s spine and concluded that the abnormal growths were most likely caused by the embryonic stem cells.
Adult stem cells are a safe alternative which have been used to cure many diseases.
An additional alternative is the use of pluripotent stem cells. At the University of Wisconsin, Dr. James Thomson has reprogrammed adult skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. These pluripotent stem cells have the capability to develop into any cell type just like embryonic stem cells without the health risks.
Embryonic stem cell research is experimental genocide; safer alternatives are available and should be implemented by the Obama administration.