Last Weds., MI held hearings on a bill to expand hES & SCNT in the
state. Testimonies (including mine) can be read (but you have to
scroll down a bit to the drop down box)
http://house.
A synopsis of the testimonies from Gongwer News online:
(Note: I said 'exploit' not force and pointed out the few numbers
available for research)
BOTH SIDES TALK EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH, NO VOTE YET
The House Judiciary Committee discussed legislation allowing
individuals using in vitro fertilization the option of donating their
unused embryos for stem cell research while also increasing the
penalties for human cloning, but most of those who testified over the
course of nearly five hours voiced their opposition to or support for
the research component itself.
There was no vote taken on HB 4616, HB 4617 and HB 4618 Wednesday, but
Chair Rep. Paul Condino (D-Southfield) said he plans on voting the
bills out of committee when the Legislature returns the week after
Thanksgiving. Apparently the House will put the bills up for a vote,
but when is uncertain, as is whether there are enough votes to get it
through the full chamber. Mr. Condino said if there aren't enough
votes, that will be a sign to embryonic stem cell research supporters
to move ahead with their petition drive and fundraising to get the
measure on the November 2008 ballot.
Rep. Andy Meisner (D-Ferndale)
restrictions in Michigan law put the state out of step with national
and international trends toward promoting the life sciences and
embryonic stem cell research and if residents want to donate their
unused three- to five-day-old embryos to science, they should have
the right to do that. Mr. Meisner said the clump of 50 to 150 cells
is not a baby or a fetus at that point and is treated as medical
waste if the individual does not use it.
"I believe there is a moral imperative we pursue this research," he
said. "This is not meant to be a jab at anybody's faith or feelings
but to say let's move forward."
In responding to a question by Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton) about
state universities already performing this research, Mr. Meisner said
institutions like the University of Michigan are studying lines
derived from a federal program, but many of those lines were
contaminated by mouse DNA and the available lines are dwindling.
Adult stem cell research is also being conducted, he said.
Edsel Ford II, great grandson of Henry Ford, testified in support of
the bills because his youngest son Albert has Type 1 Diabetes and
with no known cure, embryonic stem cell research provides hope for
one. He also said that from a business standpoint, having
restrictive laws in place puts an "unnecessary hurdle" and
essentially tells business in this area to go elsewhere.
Rep. John Stakoe (R-Highland) said to Mr. Ford that scientific
researchers are speculative as to what embryonic stem cell research
has to offer in terms of treatment, noting that tumors have been
found in animals used for testing. But Mr. Ford said he has
traveled to labs around the world and the researchers he talked to
are optimistic about what the research could offer people suffering
from all types of illnesses.
Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire) said while the bill doesn't allow
a financial incentive for parents to donate their unused embryos for
research, he questioned the fact companies would still be making
money by obtaining this resource and using it for research. Mr.
Meisner said he did hope the advancement of the science would produce
more companies and jobs in the state.
Former U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz testified in support of the bills,
saying the next president of the United States will sign legislation
funding this research and if Michigan isn't ready to receive those
funds, "We'll be out of it. Other states have stepped in and other
states will step in."
He said adult stem cell research has produced some treatments but not
as much as opponents of embryonic stem cell research say, but adult
lines don't have the same capabilities as embryonic lines to morph
into different tissues or organs as needed by a patient.
Representatives for U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Detroit) and Governor
Jennifer Granholm also threw their support behind the package.
Former Rep. Kirk Profit also testified in support of the bills,
saying when former Governor John Engler put an emphasis on life
sciences, he knew the Legislature would revisit the issue as the
industry is ever changing.
Laura Jackson, an 18-year-old who broke her neck during cheerleading
and is now a quadriplegic, said after undergoing a stem cell
treatment in China she has more mobility and can breathe on her own
longer, but she is looking forward to what will happen next in terms
of embryonic stem cell research to improve her quality of life.
And Sue Burstein Kahn with ALS of Michigan testified that while
researchers may not know a treatment will be derived from embryonic
stem cells, it's wrong to say they should just stop trying when
people with ALS are waiting for cures or going overseas to get
treatment that is not well researched or overseen.
But William Passinault, a general surgeon from Grand Rapids, said one
scientific article has cautioned against putting too much hope into
medical advancements from the research and that dollars should be put
toward what we know works - adult stem cell and umbilical cord
research and treatments - that doesn't create an embryo for
destruction. Mr. Meisner said the same article also talked about
not stifling areas of research and Rep. Marc Corriveau (D-Northville)
questioned why Mr. Passinault, as a doctor, would want to prevent
people from being helped. Mr. Passinault said doctors should treat
symptoms at the end of life, but that can be done with adult
stem cells.
Marshall resident Stacey Geason said there should be more public
awareness of embryo adoption programs as an alternative to simply
classifying unused embryos as medical waste. She and her husband
David adopted two embryos, which are now youngsters Frank and Lucy.
"There's not a shortage of people wanting to give them homes but
there is a shortage of attention and awareness," she said.
Mr. Meisner argued his legislation wouldn't preclude those adoption
programs from continuing, and that the two issues are not mutually
exclusive, but Mr. Geason said Mr. Meisner said in his earlier
testimony the embryos are either used or medical waste and the
lawmaker was backtracking to say the adoption program is a good
thing. Mr. Meisner said he was trying to convey that some parents
would want the option of donating their embryos to medical research
instead of letting other people adopt them, and that all sides should
be able to do what they want.
Ann Stevenson, a woman with Multiple Sclerosis, said she would reject
any treatment derived from human embryos because killing an embryo
was too high of price to pay to make her better.
"I feel pretty defenseless; the only way I have to defend my self is
with my voice," she said, and as the unborn have no voice, the two
should stick together. "A person is a person no matter how small,
even if they only fit on the head of the pin."
Ms. Stevenson said instead of classifying unused embryos as medical
waste there should be more effort in finding adoptive families.
Mr. Meisner said while Ms. Stevenson may not want a treatment derived
from embryonic stem cell research, others might, and questioned
whether people should have that choice. But Ms. Stevenson said she
feared that any new treatment would become the standardized care and
health insurance wouldn't pay for other treatments.
"Then I may lose my choice," she said.
Mary Hamilton, a zoologist, also testified in opposition to the bills,
saying companies stand to profit from pressuring women into
harvesting more eggs through drug infusions to get enough embryos for
research and that the only way to diversify the lines would be to
force poor women who are not Caucasian into doing the procedure.
She said current law already allows Michigan women to donate their
unused embryos to other states.
But Landon Krantz from the Student Society for Stem Cell Research at
UM said students wanting to go into this field are being forced to
look outside of Michigan for jobs and the law should be changed.
And Lee Noll of BioFlow Technology said his stem cell bioreactor
company is finding it hard to stay in Michigan because of the law.
Ed Rivet with Right to Life of Michigan said Mr. Krantz and others
can stay in the state because there is no ban on embryonic stem cell
research in the state - which is what several writers have portrayed
it to be - but there are restrictions as stem cell lines have to be
derived from outside of Michigan.
He said the group's opposition to the bills isn't because they don't
want people to be cured, but RTL doesn't support a treatment method
that kills embryos in the process, which is what this research
does. RTL cautioned lawmakers decades ago about the destructive
practices to the embryo for in vitro fertilization, he said, and
because not all embryos are used by the parents, the only other
option should be to put them up for adoption.
Rep. Andy Coulouris (D-Saginaw) then asked Mr. Rivet what he thought
about the thawing process for embryos, such as those adopted by the
Geasons, and the fact that there are times when embryos die in that
process. Mr. Rivet said it's not his fault in vitro researchers did
something to jeopardize embryos in the process and that they should
have thought of that. Mr. Rivet said it's an unfortunate
occurrence, but the embryos should be thawed and allowed to live and
not killed for research.
Paul Long with the Michigan Catholic Conference said the bills are
expanding human cloning just by the nature of the research procedure,
and that the argument for boosting the life sciences wasn't found in
Missouri where a ballot proposal passed expanding embryonic stem cell
research there. He also said Germany leads Europe in the biotech
industry and it has the same laws as Michigan and New Jersey voters
just rejected by 53 percent the use of state dollars for this
research.
Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing), another bill sponsor, said
Missouri hasn't seen a boom to its life sciences because the ballot
measure is still being challenged in the courts. And Mr. Meisner
argued that MichBio, which represents the industry, supports the
bills.
The American Diabetes Association, Michigan Citizens for Stem Cell
Research and Cures, Department of Community Health and Karmanos
Cancer Institute indicated support for the package. The Michigan
Family Forum and Citizens for Traditional Values oppose it.
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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