Stem-cell give-and-take
April 21, 2009
The stem-cell fault line is in full view these days in the Texas Legislature. And to understand the actions of the players, it is important to define your terms.
Written by Editorial, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The stem-cell fault line is in full view these days in the Texas Legislature. And to understand the actions of the players, it is important to define your terms.
Adult stem-cell research has few opponents.
Staunch conservative Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, is sponsoring SB 73, designed to create the Texas Adult Stem Cell Research Consortium to coordinate the current research at 30 sites statewide. Hey, everyone is in favor of efficiency.
Adult stem-cell research holds promise potentially for unlocking cures for chronic diseases, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative conditions.
Embryonic stem-cell research, which scientists believe is even more promising, is what attracts political heat.
Last month, President Barack Obama reversed the Bush administration’s limits on embryonic research, declaring that his administration will "make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."
Democrats were critical of the Bush administration’s tendency to politicize science on this and other matters, such as climate change, family planning and wildlife protection.
Obama overstated his case by saying that Americans "have come to a consensus that we should pursue this research." Although most Texans favor embryonic stem-cell research, there are still plenty of opponents — especially from the anti-abortion camp.
Proponents tend to argue in economic-development terms.
A 2007 University of North Texas economic study said the state’s biotechnology industry would be worth more than $30 billion in 2014 if it was unfettered by research restrictions.
Opponents say embryonic stem-cell research is unethical, arguing that harvesting embryos is tantamount to destroying human life. Catholics and devout Christians are the most vocal critics. Some of the more extreme elements assert the goofy notion that it is a slippery slope toward cloning, which, of course, no one favors.
Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, is this session’s designated anti-embryonic-research warrior.
The Senate Finance Committee chairman deftly shepherded a state budget rider through his panel that would prohibit using state money for embryonic stem-cell research.
He has a separate, more draconian bill that would forbid the research at state-supported facilities regardless of where scientists get their funding.
The Texas Medical Association, among many others, is pushing back, just as it did when similar measures were tried in 2007. The constant back-and-forth will continue regardless of this session’s outcome. The stakes have simply risen this time because the White House view on this issue has taken a 180-degree turn.
We side with the majority of Texans, the state’s scientists and medical researchers in favoring adult and embryonic stem-cell research. There is too much at stake to allow demagoguery to obscure the fact that unimpeded research ultimately could alleviate the human suffering that results from chronic disease.
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