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Adult stem cell research offers alternative

By Dr. Robert J. O'Hara Jr. 3 min read

What if the keys to curing disease and alleviating physical suffering were within our reach? What would you condone in order to obtain that knowledge? What if this treasure trove of scientific knowledge could be obtained by experiments on living human beings – children of 1 year, 2 years, or maybe 7 years old? Most of us would consider such experiments immoral and unethical, regardless of what results they may produce.

We would find such experimentation on living human beings abhorrent. Yet, many are eager to promote experimentation on human beings at their earliest stage, the embryonic stage.

In each stage, science has shown that the DNA is the same; it relates to a unique, living individual.

In fact, advocates for embryonic stem cell research acknowledge this by virtue of the fact that they are precisely interested in the potential promise of the cells of living human beings for experimentation.

The prospect of potential cures and treatments may be tantalizing, but the moral and ethical implications are devastating. Once research on living human beings is condoned, where do we draw the line? Supporters of embryonic stem cell research are now advocating ethical guidelines, but is there any ethical way to take one life to test the possibility that another may be saved?

Federal funding for research on human embryos is restricted, a policy that rightly recognizes such research involves the loss of human life. Some scientists are dissatisfied with existing restrictions and are seeking wider funding in spite of the fact that research on these approved stem cell lines has not led to the successful treatment of even one person.

Real scientific and biomedical progress is being made, but not with embryonic stem cells. Non-controversial adult stem cells obtained ethically have been used to treat at least 58 diseases.

You would think that advocates for medical and disease-specific research foundations would throw their weight behind adult stem cell research given its practical, promising and current applications.

Unfortunately, confusion about various types of stem cell research and media hype have resulted in advocates focusing almost entirely on embryonic stem cell research.

Two often the term “stem cell research” is bandied about without regard to whether such research involves adult or embryonic stem cells. No distinction is made between research considered ethical or unethical, nor from which type of research successful treatments have been derived. And with Hollywood icons and sports personalities lending their support to campaigns aimed at expanding embryonic stem cell research, the truth about such research is lost amid the cult of celebrity.

While such celebrities, disease foundations, and certain funding restrictions have helped to build a constituency to support embryonic stem cell research, no comparable constituency has been formed to advocate for adult stem cell research. In time, those constituencies will likely change as those who sincerely are seeking cures and treatments learn about the versatility of adult stem cell research, and those who are pro-life continue to work for the protection of unborn human beings from the earliest stages.

While other states spend taxpayer money on unproven and unethical embryonic stem cell research, let’s make Pennsylvania the leader in adult stem cell research, a morally and economically superior alternative.

Dr. Robert J. O’Hara Jr. is executive director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference.

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