The radio program ISSUES ETC, broadcast live from our church Sunday night February 19, 2006. The broadcast ran for two hours from 8-10 p.m. California time. This was the first time the program broadcast from such a remote location. This was not technologically possible two years ago. Thank God, for such advances in technology.
The topic covered that night was Embryonic Stem Cell Research (ESCR). The guest panelists were: Wesley Smith, attorney and colleague of Ralph Nader; Jennifer Lahl,
Registered Nurse; William Hurlbut, physician and teacher of bioethics at Stanford University.
It was a most informative broadcast. The panelists addressed the false advertisements for a proposition in the state of Missouri for Embryonic Stem Cell Research and cloning. This proposition was being touted as being a ban on cloning when in fact the opposite was the case. The panelists also debunked the hype given to the supposed benefits of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. One panelist pointed out that we don�t know the cause of Alzheimer�s disease, so it is a bit extravagant to claim that Embryonic Stem Cell Research will cure that particular disease. Wesley Smith pointed out that the private companies do not see the benefit to Embryonic Stem Cell Research. If the companies saw such benefit they would invest heavily. So guess who is getting asked to support such research? The taxpayer. Before the broadcast I talked to a conservative Republican about the issue of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. He regarded tax funding of such research as �corporate welfare.� It�s was kind of funny that this Republican sounded almost like left wing Green Party Ralph Nader, who constantly complains about �corporate welfare.� It is unfortunate the advocates of Embryonic Stem Cell Research will label opponents of such research as being opposed to all stem cell research. This is either a mistaken view or an outright misrepresentation. Jennifer Lahl, who worked at Oakland Children�s hospital was very positive about adult stem cell research using umbilical cords. Such treatment showed great promise for sickle cell anemia patients. That speaker�s comments caught my attention because, I know of someone whose sister is suffering from sickle cell anemia and needs a liver transplant.
While the broadcast was focused on the issue of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, the panelists ventured into broader issues such as the loss of humanity in medicine and the loss of integrity in science. The humanity and individuality of the patient is being ignored. The patient seems to be treated almost as a mechanical toy. How different was the practice when Bessie Rehwinkel practiced medicine around 1907 ! Bessie Rehwinkel in the book DR. BESSIE described the patient as someone with a body and soul. She regarded medicine as an art saying that each patient was different. One could not prescribe the same amount of medication for every patient. I talked to one person who considered medical school, but decided against it, after working at a clinic. If memory serves me correctly, there seemed to be a cookie cutter mentality of one size fits all to that clinic. I believe this topic of a lack of recognition of the individuality of the patient came up when I talked to an African American doctor about 10 years ago.
The loss of integrity in science also was addressed. Scientists were acting more as propagandists hiding behind there stature as scientists to make pronouncements. Wesley Smith took issues with the bogus claims of one scientist. For some reason the newspaper simply chose to accept the bogus claims of the scientist, simply because of his title. Perhaps this should come as no surprise that scientists are acting more like propagandists than seekers of truth. The late theologian, Francis Schaeffer, predicted this over 20 years ago. He said that science would go in two directions, technology and science as a game. Perhaps science as a game could best be described as propaganda. I remember talking to someone who trained as a marine biologist. He said he wanted to go into science, because he wanted to help people. But he noticed a practice which puzzled him: experimental data which did not fit the theory was being ignored or bent to fit the theory.
Perhaps wishful thinking is what led to fraudulent results in that South Korean scientists experiments. One must ask if cloning and Embryonic Stem Cell Research is so beneficial, why resort to faking the results?
This is not the place to go into a detailed discussion on fraud in science. But a good book which deals in part with the subject is HOODWINKED by Jack Cashill.
The moral question of taking the life of an embryo for medical benefits was a big reservation of Dr. William Hurlbut. One has to ask if it will really provide the great benefits promised. I wonder if there is a moral law in the universe which would work against delivering such promised benefits? The cloning of the sheep Dolly was touted as a great achievement. However Dolly had health problems and eventually had to be put to sleep. Perhaps the creation of embryos simply to be used as organs to be harvested has an in built side effect. Perhaps the benefits of sacrificing human lives for the promised rewards of �scientific advancement.� are illusory. I am reminded of the fact that the United States gave immunity to Japanese doctors and nurses who committed ghastly medical experiments on prisoners at Unit 731 during World War II. The irony was that the United States was already ahead of Japan in biological warfare. General Mac Arthur made a moral compromise for a bowl of worthless pottage. Are we not in danger of doing the same with Embryonic Stem Cell Research?
There is a practical economic aspect to this issue of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. I would argue that instead of wasting money on Embryonic Stem Cell Research, the money should be used to support ADULT stem cell research. Let me end by giving an imperfect analogy. Our creator has infused this universe with a moral law. If this were a football game, Embryonic Stem Cell Research would be the insane policy of sending the running back right into a wall of opposing football players. In other words going nowhere. Adult Stem cell research is more like the wide receivers who are open and gaining ground. Society does not have unlimited resources. The resources should be concentrated in the area of research which works.
Guy Takamatsu
# posted by GuyTak @ 10:43 PM
