Stem cell research.
 

Apparently even though the majority of people in the U.S.A. support research into stem cell experiments and the hopefully resulting cures that could be found for lots of genetic and other disabilitating illnesses, President Bush is to use his veto in Congress to prohibit any future experiments.

Is that him using his religious beliefs for the good of humanity of an abuse of democracy?

I for one support all ethically monitered research and am very hopeful that they'll find a cure for Parkinson's Disease before it affects my life too irreversiby. Selfish maybe, but all kinds of terrible illnesses besides my own could perhaps be totally cured, such as diabetes, with the right research and luck.

My dear old Ma told me that for the first time she stuck two fingers up at the telly when it was announced on the news this morning.

Cheers Mum. x :)

Re: Stem cell research.
 

What a load of old tosh... I bet Bush doesn't even know what is involved in stem cell research.... I'm with your mum on this one:swear8:

Re: Stem cell research.
 

[quote=harwood red]What a load of old tosh... I bet Bush doesn't even know what is involved in stem cell research./quote]

Listening to his overheard exchange with Blair yesterday, on the microphone they thought was off and his grasp of politics in the Middle East, I don't doubt it.

A reformed alcholic who found Jesus...God help us.

Re: Stem cell research.
 

Well thank god not all of USA's politicians are retarded like the president



The US Senate has approved a controversial bill to expand embryonic stem cell research, which President George W Bush has promised to veto.

The measure passed by 63 votes to 37, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto.

Opinion polls suggest most Americans back the research, which scientists hope will lead to cures for illnesses like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

But Mr Bush has consistently opposed embryonic research on moral grounds.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5193216.stm

Re: Stem cell research.
 

Hopefully research is being carried out in other countries , I also understand some American Bio-tech companies have set up research labs and joint ventures off-shore .

Re: Stem cell research.
 

He's 100% against abortion though too isn't he?

Re: Stem cell research.
 

yeah - he's tryna push judges that wud possibly overturn the wade vs roe ruling

but this is coming from a president that says he's doin god's work

u know whats frightening to think - just like jesus 2000 yrs ago said he was doin gods work - do u think in 2000 yrs there'll b a religion called bushianty

Re: Stem cell research.
 

There are other ways of procuring stem cells other than from embryos. We sometimes have to collect them from newborn umbilical cord blood if the mother wishes us to do so. That means we take the blood from the placenta after delivery of the baby. Stem cells can be harvested in this way, totally safe for baby and ethical.:D

Re: Stem cell research.
 

I remember you've explained this to me before Lettie.


Can't you find time to pop over to America and explain it to George Dubbya?:D

Re: Stem cell research.
 

I'd love to hun, but I think it may be too simple for him to understand..;) :D

Re: Stem cell research.
 

I watched a programme about Christopher Reeve a short time before his death. He was very vocal about the need for stem cell research as he believed it would one day find a cure for his disability.

As long as the research is ethical then it's surely got to be a good thing.

Re: Stem cell research.
 

So let me play a little devils advocate here,

If we had a disese that we can get a cure for using stem cell research.

If using ethical methods it would take 50 years and in that time 20K people would die or by using embryo/'unethical' methods we could cut that time to 5 years and save 18K more people which would you support?

I would find it very hard to justify an 'ethical' stance to those 18K people.

Re: Stem cell research.
 

Can you as an expectant mother in Britain make the choice to have your baby's cord blood banked? I have several friends who did this just in case any of their kids develop cancer so that they can use the cells from the cord blood.

Re: Stem cell research.
 

I think Bush needs injecting with a brain. Obviously no one in his family are unlucky enough to have Parkinsons or other illness yet. Maybe if they did (God forbid) he would then change his mind. It isn't cloning or designer babies it's giving sufferers the chance of a normal life!

Re: Stem cell research.
 

entwisi - whats unethical about gettin stem cells from an umbilical cord?

Re: Stem cell research.
 

I'm not talking umbilical cord cells, I'm talking about using embyos for harvesting them. this is currently seen as unethical.

Re: Stem cell research.
 

well what the us pro lobby is arguing is that those embryo's are going to be destroyed anywya for some reason or another. there's some 40K waitin to b destroyed.

surely to gain better medical knowledge from them is more ethical than to burn them?

Re: Stem cell research.
 

Yes you can Magily. There are a couple of medical companies which will bank cord blood now, they will even come to the hospital and leave an instruction package, contact telephone number and containers in which to collect the blood. They then come and collect the blood after delivery. There have been some women opting for this recently.

Re: Stem cell research.
 

I wish this had been an option a few years ago.

Re: Stem cell research.
 

Does this interfere with you doing your job as a Midwife Lettie?

Re: Stem cell research.
 

It does interfere a little bit. We take cord blood anyway, especially when the mother is rhesus negative as we need to know the blood group of the baby. Stem cell harvesting is slightly different in that there must be no contamination at all of that blood so we have to make sure that everything is sterile and hold the cord up away from the placenta and general gubbins found at delivery. Umbilical cords and placentae are wibbly wobbly things so it's easier said than done sometimes to get a sterile blood sample from them.

When we take blood as routine from an umbilical cord it doesn't matter about contamination, it can be tested anyway, so we just tend to pin the cord down and jab it. We just have to be a bit more careful with stem cell.

Re: Stem cell research.
 

off topic slightly but how many babies have you delivered lettie?

Re: Stem cell research.
 

I've lost count Madhatter. I have been doing this since 1991 although you don't work on delivery suite for all of that time. There is more to midwifery than delivering babies and labour care. I have done stints on antenatal, postnatal, community and delivery. I have done parentcraft classes, aquanatal classes and home deliveries. You do tend to lose count of how many babies you actually deliver. My best guess would be several hundred, maybe a thousand but I do remember the mums I've looked after and I always run into someone I've looked after in town or in the supermarket..:)

Re: Stem cell research.
 

*L* the thing about stem cells is that people are thinking of the embryo's but not the benefactors of the research either.

take one disease and u find a cure for it via stem cells. not only will u make the life of that person so much better all the treatment that person was goin thru regulary goes away too. so u free up alot of resources - vital resources such as blood banks, medicines and personnel

Re: Stem cell research.
 

That obviously makes you happy, You must be so proud of that. I imagine yours has to be one of the most rewarding jobs that anyone could do.

Re: Stem cell research.
 

I guess it could also be heartbreaking as well if anything was wrong with teh baby.