Historic Stem Cell Legislation Never Sees Light of Day in Senate

[ECH1969]

Today, the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR), comprised of over 95 nationally-recognized patient groups, scientific societies and academic research institutions, expressed its disappointment that legislation to expand federal support for embryonic stem cell research was not brought to a vote in the Senate prior to Congressional recess, despite promises from Senate leadership to do so.

The legislation, known in the House of Representatives as H.R. 810, passed 238-194 in the House on May 24. The bill would allow federally supported scientists to study additional stem cell lines, expand research among America's top academic researchers and accelerate the cure and treatment of diseases that affect over 100 million Americans. H.R. 810 imposes ethical and legal guidelines on the research even as it expands federally funded research opportunities of additional stem cell lines from voluntarily-donated in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos that will otherwise be discarded. This morning, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) objected to a motion that H.R. 810 be brought to the floor.

Kris Gulden, a spinal cord injured former police officer, said "I don't really understand all the political excuses being put forward, all I know is that like millions of other Americans, I now have to continue to wait for the Senate to take this up. Waiting another couple months may not seem like a big deal when you're well, healthy and able-bodied, but when you spend each and every day in a wheelchair dreaming of the day you will walk or move again, every additional day this is dragged out only chips away at your hope."

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=51031

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

1. AMA remains silent, I presume. Physicians are leaving the AMA

because of this issue and the Schiavo case. The AMA stays silent on important issues like these where they need to step up to the plate. "Dr" Frist should have his medical license suspended until he brings a vote for science to the floor.

[ooglymoogly]

5. he should have his license revoked for

diagnosing a patient wrongly from a television...he is a quack, a charlatan, an interloper, a phony and an idiot.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

7. Fristing (a definition)......

Making a long distance diagnosis via videotape with YOUR HEAD UP YOUR ASS.

That one continues to make the email rounds in the medical world.:spray:

[reprobate]

10. In a word, he's a republican.

[OzarkDem]

8. Why are they silent?

Sounds similar to groups like the American Cancer Society who also no longer takes on the important issues, but focuses only on protecting their own organization and funding for it.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

9. They are a one issue organization

Can you guess what that issue is? 10 seconds....do do do do do do do..............................................................................................................................................................MEDICAL LIABILITY REFORM

[Justitia]

2. What assholes. They are throwing us back to the Stone Age

and directly dooming mankind.

Crap like this makes me wish bad things on people like Frist.
You know, like he gets hit by a freaking bus.

[drduffy]

11. mad cow disease

yes, mad cow disease would be most appropriate

[MasonJar]

3. These criminals had better hope that they or their family members

never get a disease or an accident. Of course they will just head to the EU or S Korea. I feel so bad for the young officer.

[jillan]

4. The dems were screaming about this this morning

But Frist shut them up. Saying that 'you know there are so many moral issues here, we need to take those all into consideration'.

Gotta help the gun companies, that's much more important:sarcasm:

[Zorbuddha]

6. Well, there is still adult stem cell research. And cord blood stem cell?

Aastrom Bioscience (ASTM) is making good strides with adult stem cell technology. When the remarkable possibilities are seen by the masses, and they realize there is no real threat to potential lives, there will be a demand for embryonic stem-cell research.

There are legitimate horror-show possibilities in this, but, if we can't ethically handle this, what are we doing with bombs?