Re: Stem cell

Jim,
The site is probably somewhat biased, however the information is also true.

I see the whole embryonic stem cell issue as a canard. The real issue is MONEY and CONTROL. The adult stem cell research, which does not have the ethical dilemas, has been progressing quite well, though very quietly, in some high profile labs such as MIT and John Hopkins.

All ethical issues aside, the adult stem cell research will probably end up with a procedure or process as the treatment. The patient will be his or her own donor and the pharmacetuical companies will not have a customer for life from these treatments. More than likely, the treatment will end up being available in most medical facilities and very affordable.

The embryonic stem cell research is going to end up with a drug company or other large corporation owning the rights to the stem cells the patient receives. Currently there is only a handful of corporations owning all of the rights to the available embryonic stem cells and all rights to any future discoveries. The patient will also more than likely be destined to be on anti-rejection meds for the rest of their life.

Follow the money:

Here is Wicell's, which is non-profit shell corporation for the University of Wisconson-Madison, original agreement with the National Institue of Health . Note who retains the commercial rights to the research, the money.

I would be interested in hearing opinions on the ethics of corporations owning the legal rights to someones DNA. This would seem to me to be taking property ownership and a type of slavery to new heights.

Ron:

Boy, that's one I can argue both sides.

About six months ago we had a garage sale and I had my SUV parked outside. Apparently when one of the fellows came up he noticed my magnetic signs on the SUV "Computer Professional Rescue"

He lit into a long tirade about Linux and how great it was and that all software should be free. I asked him if he thought that people should work for free because that's what he was professing. A developer works many long hours to develop a software program and this guy thinks it should be free!

Much the same logic, although not exact, follows with stem cell research. I agree with you, "Follow the Money." If there's no money to be made, nothing will be done about it. If there is money to be made it's going to cost you, me and Uncle Sam a lot of money.

The only question that needs to be answered, "Is it worth it?" If you have Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease you'd probably say YES.

If you're a politician looking for votes you'd flip-flop as the wind blows.

What's going to be the deciding factor is what percentage of the population will be benefited compared to how much economic suffering it will cause. Sounds pretty callous but that's probably the way it'll come down.