By Kathleen Gilbert
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 6, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-Life members of the U.S. House of Representatives this week urged congressional leaders to abandon federal funding of embryo-destructive stem cell research in favor of ethical adult stem cell research.
"We have moved beyond the ethical debate because we have something in hand that is the promise and the hope of regenerative medicine," insisted Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) in a speech on the House floor Wednesday.
Smith and nine other pro-life Members of Congress discussed the breakthroughs and advantages of stem cell therapies that do not require the destruction of human life. The members said that adult stem cells from various sources have already been shown to cure or mitigate leukemia, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, sickle cell anemia, and dozens more.
"Human embryo-destroying stem cell research is not only unethical, unworkable and unreliable, it is now demonstrably unnecessary," said Smith. "Adult stem cells ... are truly remarkable.
They work, they have no ethical baggage, and advances are made every day at a dizzying pace.
"Unlike embryonic stem cells that kill the donor, are highly unstable, have a propensity to morph into tumors and are likely to be rejected by the patient unless strong anti-rejection medicines are administered, induced pluripotent cells, stem cells, have none of those deficiencies
and are emerging as the future, the greatest hope of regenerative medicine," Smith stated.
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WASHINGTON, D.C., March 6, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-Life members of the U.S. House of Representatives this week urged congressional leaders to abandon federal funding of embryo-destructive stem cell research in favor of ethical adult stem cell research.
"We have moved beyond the ethical debate because we have something in hand that is the promise and the hope of regenerative medicine," insisted Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) in a speech on the House floor Wednesday.
Smith and nine other pro-life Members of Congress discussed the breakthroughs and advantages of stem cell therapies that do not require the destruction of human life. The members said that adult stem cells from various sources have already been shown to cure or mitigate leukemia, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, sickle cell anemia, and dozens more.
"Human embryo-destroying stem cell research is not only unethical, unworkable and unreliable, it is now demonstrably unnecessary," said Smith. "Adult stem cells ... are truly remarkable.
They work, they have no ethical baggage, and advances are made every day at a dizzying pace.
"Unlike embryonic stem cells that kill the donor, are highly unstable, have a propensity to morph into tumors and are likely to be rejected by the patient unless strong anti-rejection medicines are administered, induced pluripotent cells, stem cells, have none of those deficiencies
and are emerging as the future, the greatest hope of regenerative medicine," Smith stated.
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CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST
