House acts irresponsibly in passing stem-cell bill

House acts irresponsiblyin passing stem-cell bill
EDITOR:
On Jan. 11, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would amend the Public Service Act and provide for human embryonic stem cell research. It passed 253-174. That means that 253 of our elected officials are either totally ignorant of the consequences of such inane legislation, or they simply don't care. I'm not certain which is worse: ignorance or apathy.
A co-sponsor of that bill was Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., who was quoted in the Feb. 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association as saying, "We brought this legislation back for a vote today to give President Bush another chance to do the right thing."
The "right thing," according to Congresswoman DeGette, would actually be an immoral act, as it would be the signing and sealing of a death penalty for hundreds of thousands of frozen embryos (now ensconced in numerous invitro fertilization labs) that could be adopted and placed in the uterus of some wife who has thus far been unable to conceive because of infertility on her part or that of her husband. "Snow flake" babies have proven that to be efficacious.
The Senate was the recipient of a similar bill. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 (HR 3 and S5) is identical to one passed in the previous Congress in 2005 and vetoed by President Bush.
Stem cell research is a noble endeavor. Embryonic stem cell research is abject homicide. With the recent discovery of the ubiquitous stem cell population in amniotic fluid, one need not sacrifice any lives to acquire those research tools. Additionally, the recent success in Austria of harvesting autologus stem cells from scores of patients' forearms and culturing, then implanting, the primitive muscle and connective tissue cells obtained from those cultures that enabled people suffering from a lack of urinary bladder control to return to a normal lifestyle, totally obviates the need for homologous stem cell research of any kind.
Using autologus stem cells (one's own) instead of homogolous stem cells (derived from another human) settles the ongoing problem of rejection and eliminates the need for costly and dangerous anti-rejection drugs.
What the House and Senate would do is impede the growth of autologous stem cell research in favor of the easy way out by subjecting 400,000 frozen, embryonic humans to a death sentence. Neither ignorance nor apathy will excuse their unconscionable behavior.
CHARLES H. McGOWEN, M.D.
Howland
There's a medical causefor astronaut's meltdown
EDITOR:
As a psychiatrist, I am appalled at the ignorance and misinterpretation concerning the "true illness" of Astronaut Lisa Marie Novak. I have treated this condition and have, together with the psychiatric community, demanded that her disorder be classified as a true medical illness rather than a psychiatric illness. I believe many states are beginning to accept this concept in reference to hospitalization benefits and care. I am referring of course to bipolar 1 disorder in a highly accomplished individual.
Why this letter? It behooves all to know that this can happen to anyone and that external forces may play a distant secondary role. It is also an opportunity to save the reputation of this medically ill person and to inform and challenge the ridiculous conclusions being drawn by the media and the culture.
RAYMOND SESTI BONIFACE, M.D.
Poland