What are your thoughts on stem cell research? Do you think it's immoral? Have you heard of instances where it was successful and would you be willing to have an operation that involves stem cells?
A couple of years ago I had a co-worker that was blind. He lost his vision eight years prior in a car accident. The nerves to his eyes were damaged and completely impaired his vision.
He met a doctor a couple years ago that wanted to try a controversial operation that involved stem cells to replace the damaged nerves, but it wasn't legal in the United States. So, both him and the doctor flew to russia to preform the operation.
He had to where bandages for a few days after returning to the U.S., but when they finally took the bandages off he was able to see again. He would have migraine headaches from the light and still had to avoid bright light for a while but eventually he was able to tolerate it.
So stem cells work, there's no debating that. The problem is that the stem cells in this case came from an aborted fetus and many from his family will no longer talk to him. He's glad to have his site back though...
Would you do it?
RoverRoad
Posts: 1492 | Location: USA | Registered: 06-05-02
I have no problem with the research itself....I have some reservations but my lovely, brilliant grandmother has Alzhiemer's, and I would love to see the day that no one ever again goes through this heartbreak....I do have trouble with the method by which the cells are obtained..I am pro-choice, but the idea of creating a potential life for the purpose of destroying it sickens my soul....especially when the stem cells can be harvested from other sources...Stem Cell Research, sure, Creating Embryos to harvest from, no.
Posts: 2254 | Location: Western United States | Registered: 06-03-02
Not in support of the idea but if there was a way for me to look more like Paul Newman for example and several other clones like me -I'd send a few to work and let the original copy(me) take a lonnnggg vacation
I think that the idea of stem cell research is very interesting. But I hate the idea that you have to us fetus's to research it. I wonder if you could instead use dead organ donor's? Would that work? Or does it have to be fetuses because of the "freshness" of them?
Grumpybear, no, cells from dead organ donors would not work, the stem cell is a sort of "blank slate" a cell that has not yet become any particular body part...this involves being bandbox new..... but stem cells CAN be harvested from the "Cord Blood" in the umbilical cord when a baby is born...and I feel certain that many families would consent to such harvesting....it would not involve any risk to the baby or mother.
Posts: 2254 | Location: Western United States | Registered: 06-03-02
I just read the other day in AARP Magazine that adult bone-marrow stem cells may prove to be just as useful as embryonic stem cells. I'd rather have research proceed in that area for ethical reasons.
-I'd send a few to work and let the original copy(me) take a lonnnggg vacation 
