As a physician, I support President Bush’s decision to veto the bill that would allow federally funded embryonic stem cell research. Many have assumed that we are bypassing potential cures for ailments like Parkinson’s and diabetes, when in fact there is just as much evidence to show that adult stem cells could hold the key to curing many such chronic diseases. Adult stem cell research, which makes use of donated organs, umbilical cord blood and even baby teeth, has already been shown to improve conditions like Parkinson’s and heart disease, while research using embryos has yet to heal a single person. Even if embryonic stem cell research did produce potential therapies, our bodies’ immune systems would likely reject another person’s cells, forcing us to consider using cloned embryos of ourselves in order to actually make use of the treatments.
Most Americans are not willing to enter this ethical minefield, no matter what potential cures may exist. Let’s focus our money and efforts on adult stem cell research, a method that is less controversial, less complicated, has a more proven track record, and is likely to find cures more quickly for the people who really need them.