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the Stem Cell Page time and ignorance are the enemies |
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The opposition’s case; how it might affect you |
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May 3, 2006
A group in opposition to the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative has published a web site and made their case. Calling themselves Missourians Against Human Cloning (MAHC), their case consists of ten points that take twists and turns that would be the envy of an eel, though far more slippery. Here are their ten points and our counterpoints:
1) The ballot amendment seeks to protect human cloning: Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) is a technical term that describes the process for creating a cloned human embryo. This is the same procedure that produced "Dolly the Sheep" and some scientists want to use it to clone humans in Missouri.
SCNT, like many other medical tools, can be used for different outcomes. Morphine can be used to alleviate pain to help us get through recovery from surgery. Outside its legitimate medical purpose it can be abused. But doctors aren’t banned from using morphine to help us get well. Therapeutic cloning results in a supply of a patient’s genetically matched stem cells. Reproductive cloning is what resulted in Dolly the sheep. The Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative specifically bans reproductive (“human”) cloning. MAHC makes no distinction between therapeutic and reproductive cloning.
2) This amendment opens the back door to Government Funding of human cloning: Backers of the amendment state that it doesn't require public funding. However, the language of the amendment removes decisions about human cloning from the legitimate oversight of the legislature and paves the way for our tax dollars to be used for this unethical research.
First, when we get sick, we go to a doctor, not a legislator. Legislators are not medical practitioners and have no business deciding what course of treatment we and our doctors choose when we’re sick.
Second, MAHC needs to take a civics lesson. ALL governmental budgets are legislative. No state tax dollars can be spent on anything without the approval of the legislature and the signature of the Governor.
3) This amendment may lead to the exploitation of women: Human cloning research will require young women to risk their own health to supply millions of eggs. Up to 35% of women who submit to ovarian stimulation experience health consequences, some as serious as stroke, infertility, organ failure and even death. Sadly, the egg business is booming on college campuses across the country. "As long as profit depends on women's bodies, we can be sure that the most vulnerable women will be aggressively pursued regardless of the risk to their health and happiness. In the name of science, the industry will literally have its hands inside the bodies of hundreds of millions of poor, disadvantaged women." (Family Research Council Director of Life and Women's Issues, Pia de Solenni, PhD)
Exploitation of women is a serious issue. This is why the Missouri Stem Cell and Cures Initiative contains strict controls, requiring that eggs acquired for stem cell research must be donated and can never be bought or purchased. Here’s the exact text:
2. (4) No person may, for valuable consideration, purchase or sell human blastocysts or eggs for stem cell research or stem cell therapies and cures.
4) This amendment will take resources away from proven research: (There are 2 distinct areas of stem cell research.) Adult stem cell research which includes stem cells from umbilical cord blood, placenta, bone marrow and a host of other cells has proven to be extremely successful in treating over 65 illnesses. New medical advances using adult stem cells occur constantly. This is a source of true hope for those suffering from currently incurable diseases. Missourians Against Human Cloning champions this ethical research.
First, notice that MAHC provides neither argument nor evidence that supports the claim that the amendment will take away resources from proven research. They just make the claim and immediately switch subjects. That’s because there is no evidence to support their claim. But that’s okay, let’s just examine what they do say.
First, the initiative does not favor one type of stem cell research over another. Supporters believe that stem cell research of all varieties should be vigorously pursued. The first successful adult stem cells treatment, the bone marrow transplant, was performed in 1956 by Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, the “granddaddy” of adult stem cell therapy. However, MAHC, nor any other opponent of the initiative, ever dare to mention his name because Dr. Thomas, who won the Nobel Prize for his pioneering research, is among the eighty American Nobel laureates who support embryonic stem cell research.
Nonetheless, by the end of the 1960’s, adult stem cell therapies, used primarily to treat blood disorders, had become mainstream. But the claim that they have been “extremely successful in treating over 65 illnesses” is a gross misstatement. Most of those “treatments” are merely experimental and have not cleared FDA approval. [ Update July, 2006: In fact, it refers to a list compiled by David Prentice and debunked by scientists Shane Smith, William Neaves and Steven Teitelbaum. Click here for details. ] For instance, the claims include treatments of Multiple Sclerosis, spinal cord injury, diabetes and Parkinson’s. None of these “treatments” have proven sufficiently safe and effective to obtain FDA approval. Moreover, just ask someone you know with one of these diseases or injuries if they’ve been cured – or even treated – with adult stem cells. Though it would be wonderful, the answer will unfortunately be “No.”
And note MAHC’s claim to be a “champion” of adult stem cell research. Yet they have not a single medical research institution, patient advocacy group, disease foundation, medical society or medical school that endorses their group, let alone their position. Not one. Nor is there any mention on their web site of any institution engaged in adult stem cell research with whom they have any official association. Not one. Given that those they claim to support choose to remain at a safe distance from MAHC, they could hardly be characterized as “champions.”
5) Embryonic stem cell research has provided no treatments: Ironically, given all the hype, embryonic stem cell research offers NO treatments or cures and in fact has proven to produce defects such as tumors. Hence, "none of the major biotech companies in this country - none of them - are putting their money behind therapeutic cloning." (Leon Kass - Former Chairman, President's Council on Bioethics)
As mentioned earlier, adult stem cells were isolated when Eisenhower was President. It took many years of research, experiments and testing before any reliable, approved treatments resulted. Human embryonic stem cells weren’t isolated until 1998 and they’re still in the experimental stage. What is clear, however, is that the results we’re finding in animal experiments with embryonic stem cells is greater than ever dreamed with adult stem cells. For instance, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and Diabetes have been ameliorated in mice and apes in experiments that have been repeated by multiple institutions. Not so with adult stem cells. The difference is that embryonic stem cell advocates tend to be “equal opportunity stem cell research advocates,” supporting the pursuit of all types of stem cell research. This quote by the same Leon Kass explains why: “It is much too early to tell which sorts of stem cells are going to be useful for which sorts of diseases and disabilities. People should not allow their moral positions to encourage wishful thinking or to distort their view of the actual scientific and clinical evidence. We just do not know how this field will develop.” Regarding private investment into embryonic stem cell research, MAHC once again has their claim backwards. Since the government has provided pitifully little research funding, it is indeed the private sector that has provided the lion’s share of the research capital. Harvard University has embarked on a $500 million project in Massachusetts – all with private funds. Pending the outcome of the Missouri initiative, the Stowers Institute will invest $350 million in Missouri – all private funds. Private companies, like California based Geron Corporation, which raised equity approaching half a billion dollars, are funded in the private sector.
The MAHC reference to tumors is a scare tactic. Undifferentiated embryonic stem cells can develop into teratomas, which by the way are benign, but undifferentiated cells are not the treatment. They are merely the raw material used to develop the treatment, which is healthy differentiated cells. The key is the pluripotency of the embryonic cells, their ability to be coaxed into a distinct healthy tissue, such as neural cells or heart muscle cells. It is these healthy, differentiated cells that will be used for treatments - not the raw material as MAHC purports.
6) The wording on the amendment is misleading: The amendment calls for a "ban [on] human cloning or attempted cloning." However, medical science clearly states embryos created by somatic cell nuclear transfer are human clones.
Actually, MAHC is misleading, which is why they never quote the complete amendment verbiage. So here it is. You be the judge…
2. (1) No Person may clone or attempt to clone a human being.
6. (2) “Clone or attempt to clone a human being” means to implant in a uterus or attempt to implant in a uterus anything other than the product of fertilization of an egg of a human female by a sperm of a human male for the purpose of initiating a pregnancy that could result in the creation of a human fetus, or the birth of a human being.
It must also be noted that litigation was filed against the summary ballot language written by Missouri’s Secretary of State. However, the court upheld the ballot language as both clear and fair. Opponents of the initiative appealed the case, but once again the case was dismissed. Every time MAHC claims “It’s deceiving,” judges disagree.
7) This amendment creates an atmosphere of false hope: "Anyone who says new therapy is around the corner, or even a few years away, is just wrong .” (Ronald McKay - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
We disagree with MAHC’s contention that the amendment provides false hope, though we agree with Dr. McKay’s assessment. Researching new therapies and vetting them through rigorous testing is indeed a long, arduous and necessary process. It protects patient safety. However, the amendment provides no timetables or guarantees of results whatsoever. The amendment merely ensures that whatever medical research, treatments, therapies and cures are allowed by federal law will be allowed in Missouri. This guarantees Missourians will have medical access and opportunity equal to other Americans. It is interesting, however, that MAHC chose Ronald McKay as the spokesperson of the point with which we agree. Notably, Dr. McKay is one of the foremost embryonic stem cell researchers in the world today (but we’ll get back to that later).
8) Eight out of nine Missourians oppose human cloning. (McLaughlin &Associates Poll, December 2005) Six neighboring states have banned human cloning - SCNT. In addition, 7 countries, including France and Germany, have also banned this unethical research.
Virtually, all Missourians oppose human reproductive cloning. But in polls that distinguish between therapeutic and reproductive cloning, Missourians approve of therapeutic cloning by a 2 to 1 margin. Even if the MAHC doesn’t understand the difference between a cloned human being and a clump of cells in a Petri dish that become a miniature stem cell factory, it’s clear that most Missourians do.
It is true that six states have banned SCNT, though once again, MAHC misses the point. That means SCNT is perfectly legal in 88% of the country. One of the first states to ban SCNT was Iowa, back in 2002. Iowa now understands the difference between therapeutic cloning to make medicines and reproductive human cloning to make babies. Notably, Iowa is in the process of repealing the SCNT ban, which will raise that percentage to 90%. Worldwide, the percentage of countries that allow SCNT is simply overwhelming.
As for Germany, well, now let’s get back to Dr. McKay. It was McKay’s team that first developed neural brain cells from embryonic stem cells. This won Dr. McKay the Ernst Schering Prize in 2004, one of Germany’s highest honors for medical research.
9) Ever-changing science does not belong in the Missouri Constitution.
To the contrary, according to the law it does if the majority of Missourians say it does. (What the MAHC forgets is that basic American precept of separation of Church and State. It is religious doctrine that has no place in our politics.) Of course, a constitutional amendment wouldn’t be necessary if folks like the MAHC simply kept their personal beliefs personal. It is because they have attempted to force their minority view upon the rest of us that this action is required to settle the matter once and for all.
But make no mistake, the same Missouri State Constitution that will protect our rights to stem cell therapies and cures will also afford the same medical autonomy to reject any such treatment. If MAHC supporters contract some insidious disease that is curable only by treatment derived from embryonic or SCNT stem cells, they will not be forced to submit to that particular treatment. This cannot be overstated: Medical autonomy, the rights of patients to work with their doctors to make the best choices for themselves, is precisely what’s at stake here.
10) We [MAHC] need you to vote no.
That’s a reason? Not in the Show Me State. Missouri voters don’t vote one way or the other just because a you want us to. We vote for what is in our best interests. (Sorry, MAHC.)
So much for MAHC’s top ten list. Perhaps more significantly, as of this writing MAHC has listed about 50 doctors who oppose SCNT research, therapies and cures. We suggest you pay careful attention to the names on that list.
When you’re sick your life is in your doctor’s hands. You should ask if your doctor would place his or her personal beliefs above saving your life. Should you ever become seriously ill in the future, it would be important to know if your doctor will do everything he or she can do, including deploying the latest technologies and therapies such as SCNT, to save your life.
Fortunately, the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative has an endorsement list of more than 600 Missouri doctors and 1100 nurses who would not hesitate to use the SCNT process to save your life.
Any questions?
- Jeff Eisen
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