Letter to the Editor

Citing sources

Monday, March 7, 2005

Dear Editor,

My previous letter concerning stem cell research was quite lengthy, so I omitted listing my sources of information. Obviously this was a mistake, as it has been presumed that the information was my opinion. Again, I state that we need facts, not hope or relativistic thinking to see clearly concerning these issues.

My documentation on my difficulties experienced in research with embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can be sourced to Archibald Grabinski of STEMBANC (www.stembanc.com.). The data concerning ESC research with Parkinson's & Alzheimer's patients came from an article in Celebrate Life quoting Dr. Paul Tuttle, co-chair of the ethics committee of Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The myth debunking material on ESCs & information on adult stem cells (ASCs) capabilities are the work of Tadeusz Pacholczyk, who holds a doctorate in neuroscience from Yale University and has conducted postdoctoral research at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Other documentation was taken from articles quoting the May, 2001 journal Cell, and a December 2003 article in The Scientist where Philip Hunter states the unforeseen drawbacks concerning ESCs, and the exaggerated euphoria that had overtaken the research community.

Also, no statement was made that ASCs could "cure" spinal cord injury, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, etc. Rather, I stated that "ASCs have proven helpful in people with Parkinson's, etc." And, yes, there is a percentage of bone marrow transplant recipients that are not helped and die -- but their chance of survival without the transplant is realistically zero! If their chance of survival jumps to 60 percent or higher with ASC therapy, is that not something to be heralded?!

Concerning ESCs from in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics, if these embryos are "discarded" (What a way to describe the wanton abuse and death of a human life!), indeed it is homicide! Does mutilating them for their scientific use -- causing their death -- improve on that situation?!!

Finally, the assumption that I do not have anyone close to me suffering from an incurable disease is even further from the point. I have not one or two, but several relatives very dear to me who are in that situation at present. Do I desire their healing? Absolutely! (There is no one in that position that I would not encourage every possible moral remedy for!) But, would I assent to the sacrificing of another human being's life for this possible benefit? A definite never! We are back to ethics. Again, the final answer does not reside in man - we must turn to our Creator. He made us - we did not make ourselves, thus He has total dominion over us. And He alone can open our minds to the knowledge of good and evil. "Thou Shalt not kill." Ex.20:13 God help us!

Sincerely,

Jerome Biegler

McCook

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