|
|
 |
|
|
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF) and the thousands of churches it represents
oppose the portions of the Executive, Senate and Assembly budget that deals with embryonic stem cell
research and human cloning. NYCF proposes that any spending on embryonic stem cell research (ESCR),
reproductive or therapeutic human cloning is fiscally irresponsible. Proponents of this mad science are
constantly telling New Yorkers that if the government does not release public funding for ESCR, New York
State will lose its competitive edge and thousands of potential new jobs. The argument continues that
New York State will suffer a “brain drain”, with researchers moving in droves to ESCR-friendly states.
The facts show otherwise.
• In 1998, Michigan became the first state to ban human cloning for research purposes. Following this ban,
“Michigan has seen the fastest growth in the nation for its life sciences industry,” with especially
rapid growth in the past three years — adding over 70 new companies. (http://medc.michigan.org/lifescience/)
• In January 2003, Michigan State University, acquired a new tenured professor in its Department
of Animal Science -- Dr. Jose Cibelli, formerly one of the top three cloning experts at Advanced Cell
Technology in Massachusetts.
(http://www.canr.msu.edu/dept/ans/community/people/cibelli_jose.html) So much for “brain drain”.
• Pennsylvania also has a longstanding ban on harmful experiments on human embryos; such
experimentation is a Class C felony. Under this policy, Pennsylvania now “ranks second in pharmaceutical
employment nationally, third in biotechnology employment and fourth in medical device employment”
in the United States. (www.pabioconnect.com/aboutbio.html)
The Spitzer administration campaigned on the promise of attracting “further private investment into the state,”
but the Executive, Senate and Assembly proposals all draw heavily on public (taxpayer funded) dollars. If
ESCR is such a promising endeavor why is there not more private venture capital pursuing it?
• FACT: Although scientists have successfully used adult stem cells in the treatment of close to one
hundred diseases, in spite of the hype, no cures have come from ESCR.
• FACT: A human embryo must be destroyed to obtain embryonic stem cells. In 1999, President Clinton’s
National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) acknowledged broad agreement in American society that human embryos
“deserve respect as a form of human life” (NBAC, Ethical Issues in Human Stem Cell Research, 1999, p. ii).
Destroying early human life shows a profound disrespect for human life.
• FACT: Proponents of embryonic stem cell research claim that they only want to use In Vitro Fertilized
(IVF) embryos that will be discarded anyway. The truth is that more than 90% of embryos stored in IVF clinics
are saved for later use by parents or donated to other infertile couples for implantation (RAND Law & Health
Initiative). In May 2005, President Bush held a reception for dozens of parents that had adopted an IVF embryo
and given birth to a “snowflake” baby.
• FACT: Stem cells from IVF embryos will cause serious immune rejection problems when transplanted into
patients. Researchers argue that to avoid immune rejection, we need human cloning to make stem cells that are
enetically identical to the patient receiving the stem cell transplant.
• FACT: State funding of ESCR will create an incentive to create and kill more human embryos for stem
cells, which will lead to an unregulated human embryo farm industry. Thousands of New York women will be exploited
for their “donor” eggs in the name of medical advancement.
The Spitzer-Paterson administration is on record as saying that they would be committed to making embryonic stem
cell research in New York “legal, vital and ethical.” The problem for people of faith is that you cannot make e
mbryonic stem cell research “ethical”. By its very nature, embryonic stem cell research requires the destruction
of human life. ESCR, human and therapeutic cloning are morally irresponsible. There is an inherent moral problem
with this kind of biomedical research. How can one call medical research that violates the Hippocratic Oath, the
Nuremberg Codes, historic Judeo-Christian values and the consciences of millions of New Yorkers, ethical?
Because ESCR and human cloning are both fiscally and morally irresponsible, NYCF believes that any public funding
or stem cell research MUST be specifically stated for “non-embryonic” purposes, and it must include a complete ban
on all human cloning – both reproductive and therapeutic.
|
|
