New Stem Cell Results Very Exciting

Talk about excitement--The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published the latest research where stem cells have been successfully used to essentially cure type 1 diabetes. (Cure is my word, not theirs!) Type 1 diabetes is the type which usually manifests early in life. Type 2, sometimes called growth onset diabetes is the lifestyle associated version.

15 young patients were given stem cells after having their immune systems suppressed and the result has been phenomenal. 11 of the patients were insulin free after the injection and have not needed any supplemental therapy for what has now been three years. This is a great first step though such treatment will not be readily available for another 5-8 years.

It is disturbing though that the reporting of this is being slanted for political reasons. Here is a quote from one such report which, while veiled, is intentionally misleading.

"…research using the most versatile kind of stem cells — those acquired from human embryos — is currently opposed by powerful critics, including President Bush."

Why is this misleading? Because the stem cells used with this great success were not embryonic stem cells but autologous stem cells meaning they were derived from the patients' own blood. I have been saying for years that there has not been a single medical success using embryonic stem cells. But those bent on extermination of the baby in the womb through abortion are dying for an honorable justification for doing so. This is why--my opinion--they insist on pushing for legislation and funding for embryonic stem cell research.

So the statement as part of a news article has no relevance to the story except to confuse the lay listener, getting them worked up to push their legislators to vie for embryonic stem cell research.

As I write LD 1309 is scheduled for a public hearing before the Health and Human Services Committee for April 26, 2007. It is all about funding embryonic stem cell research. The research is lethal to the little children aborted and of course if it passes it will be paid for in part, by you and me.

Don't buy the political rhetoric which puts people like me in a bad light implying we are trying to stand in the way of medical progress. I am all for medical research that shows promise and moral responsibility. Research with embryonic stem cells shows neither. How about letting your legislator know you're on to them.