Actor Reeve: States Will Lead Stem Cell Research

[Paragon]

You don't tug on Superman's cape...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=3&u=/nm/20031028/ts_nm/science_stemcells_dc

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - While the federal government continues to restrict research on stem cells taken from embryos, states are trying to create legal loopholes for scientists to continue what could be life-saving experiments, actor and activist Christopher Reeve said on Monday.

So far, only California has passed a law that allows the use of state funds for research into harvesting and using stem cells from any source, including embryos. But other states are moving in that direction, Reeve said.

"A half-dozen or more key states will lead the way," Reeve said in an interview after a briefing commemorating the fifth anniversary of the first isolation of human stem cell lines from embryos...

Opponents, including President Bush, say it is wrong to use a human embryo in a medical experiment.

[La_Serpiente]

1. I think what Bush wanted

when he went to Washington was to try to change the tone. That was one of the first time he tried to make a compromise.

However, you can't be making compromises all the time in Washington, especially with issues like that. I don't think this is an issue one can compromise on.

[Paragon]

2. Banning all but 11 batches of stem cells from funding is not "compromise"

Ask the guy in the wheelchair.

[La_Serpiente]

3. Yah...of course it's not

Perhaps I'm looking at it from Bush's perspective

[Skittles]

4. Bush doesn't have a perspective

he just does what Karl and Dick tell him.

[flama]

5. Don't tug on Superman's cape indeed!

The list of states considering passing laws to allow stem cell research (and California) is impressive.

I felt proud to see Illinois among the few. The University of Chicago had at least 57 separate hospitals when I left Cook County. Northwestern University is proud of their Medical School and will almost certainly get into the act if the law is passed in Springfield.

Princeton and Rutgers sprang to mind when I saw New Jersey in the lot. Please feel free to add to my favorite New Jersey schools if I've missed some.

New York is home to many research hospitals, as well as all the SUNY schools.

Massachusetts? Great medical schools at their universities and my second choice for a hospital if I ever need one.

Medical research facilities in California are too numerous to list. I wonder what Scripps would do with a fresh supply of stem cells. (Nothing in Florida if JEB can pay for them to move here, I'm afraid.)

It's sad to see Wisconsin was not on the list. The state where stem cells were first isolated should feel compelled to add to the knowledge. Well, what can one expect from a state that elected McCarthy to the Senate? (But that was a long time ago. They can still recover.)

I'd love to hear what Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali's family have to say about this. Of course, there are the common folk, who we will never hear of, who might have some mighty words to say on research that might make them well and whole again.

I just hope the states that vote to fund stem cell research don't end up losing other federal funds in the bargain.