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Pursue All Potential Stem Cell Therapies

by N.C. Dem. Rep. Brad Miller - 07/20/06 7:17 AM ET

Modern medicine is moving rapidly toward the development of more effective
treatments for a host of diseases. Many of the advances being made today by scientists are based on advanced stem cell therapies that are able to target the causes of diseases rather than simply treating the symptoms. These new techniques are being applied experimentally to a wide range of human disorders, including cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and many other debilitating diseases.

We should pursue all potential stem cell therapies – embryonic , adult and pluripotent – on the basis of the promise of those therapies for effective medical treatment. I respect the concern that the embryos used in embryonic stem cell research are at least a potential life and I grieve for the deep
division in our society over this issue, but the embryos used would
otherwise be discarded. The potential therapeutic value of such research and
the relief from suffering for millions of people justifies the use of those
embryos in these circumstances.