Lines That Divide: The Great Stem Cell Debate

I have been way behind in blogging. Mainly because we've just released our documentary and I am working hard at the completion of a book. Anyway, the film is out and getting good preliminary reviews and interest.

I was pleased to have Chuck Colson mention it in his daily breakpoint message. If you missed it or don't get his messages you can read or listen to it here.

June 30, 2009

Scientists at Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California, are discovering a potential cure for leukemia and sickle-cell disease. How? By using blood stem cells from the placentas of women who have had Caesarian deliveries.

But researchers at the hospital are frustrated. State agencies have made multi-million-dollar grants available for embryo-destructive research, but money is scarce for its ethically sound counterpart, adult stem cell research.

In the Contra Costa Times, lead Children’s Hospital researcher Frans Kuypers says, “No one has been cured by an embryonic stem cell. We are able to cure folks with [adult] stem cells.”

So why isn’t adult stem cell research receiving more funding? Josephine Quintavalle, director of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, says “What you get from [the adult stem cell] approach is a patient-specific cure. There's no middleman . . . and there's no drug company that's going to get rich as a result of it.”

But, she explains, a lot of the pressure for stem-cell research is to find products that they can sell, as opposed to a treatment they can do to cure you.

Quintavalle is just one of many experts from both sides of the debate interviewed in the new documentary, Lines that Divide, produced by the Center for Bioethics and Culture.

In the documentary you’ll hear first-hand testimonies from people whose lives have been saved through adult stem cell research. Like Barry Goudy, who suffered with multiple sclerosis. Since undergoing adult stem cell replacement therapy, he’s been free from MS for five years.

“They reboot your immune system,” he explains. “I live a normal life. I coach hockey, I play racquetball, I golf.” Without the adult stem cell transplant, Goudy would probably be in a wheelchair.

Twenty-two-year-old Corrina Archuleta also shares her dramatic recovery from a flesh-eating auto-immune disorder. Her family was making her funeral arrangements before adult stem cell therapy saved her life.

The film also covers why even traditionally pro-choice advocates are speaking out against embryo-destructive stem cell research. In order to extract enough eggs for embryonic stem cell research, a woman’s ovaries are hyper-stimulated so that she will produce a dozen or more eggs at a time.

But doctors know that ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome and the drugs themselves have caused blood clotting, stroke, and even death. The former chief medical officer of the FDA warms that potential egg donors “need to be aware that this is not a procedure that is without risk.” Even the risk of death.

That’s not what you are seeing in the media. What you do see, however, are celebrities and politicians gushing over the potential for embryo-destructive stem cell research. Even while lives are being saved today by adult stem cell therapy.

We need to be informed in order to help shape the public debate—and encourage our leaders to fund proven, morally unproblematic adult stem cell research.

That’s why I urge you to get a hold of the filmLines that Divide. Visit BreakPoint.org, and we’ll tell you how.

Honoring the President's Council on Bioethics

By Evan Rosa, CBC Staff Writer:

In one of my recent articles, I suggested that we live amidst rampant moral confusion. And a long history of human ideas and events has escorted us to this point. As we continue to develop new technology, new medical procedures, and a slew of new ideas about these, there is no denying the corresponding ethical questions. But these ethical questions are not new: Is X morally right? Is it virtuous to do Y? Does Z promote human flourishing? Humanity has long pondered these questions.

We have always turned to our tribe's wise men - our leaders, our gatekeepers - for the answers, and this is fitting. We seek the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment and equity. Those who have wondered, asked, studied, experienced, and now know, can offer us insight about how to live excellently (read: virtuously) in the face of the complexities of technological advance and competing ideologies.

For the past seven years, we've turned to the President's Council on Bioethics for just such clarity and insight about ethics and virtue. The Council was set up by executive order in November of 2001, with a charge to "be the conscience of the country." I'd like to call attention to and gratefully applaud their contributions to the people of America during such morally confusing times. They have been an example of genuine moral inquiry and clarity, backed by scientific credibility. And the Council still holds a very special place in our minds and hearts at the CBC. Two of our six Paul Ramsey Award winners have served on the President's Council for Bioethics: Edmund D. Pellegrino, M.D. (chairman of the Council from 2005 to 2009) and Gilbert C. Meilaender, Ph.D.

full article here:

The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network

Posted using ShareThis

IVF in the news

IVF Twins have health compromised

"Normally conceived twins are healthier and IVF twins spend about an extra 4 days in hospital after birth, have an almost 4-fold increased risk of admission to neo-natal intensive care, and an increased risk of hospital admission in the first three years. As the authors point out, IVF is not only riskier but more expensive."

16 year old surrogate tells her story of helping her sister have a baby.

Reproductive Tourism, now called Cross-border reproductive services, discusses three characteristics of countries which are more "friendly" to reproductive tourism:

"Three key characteristics of many countries that have become popular destinations for cross border reproductive services are: first, the lack of regulation affording adequate protection for the parties most directly affected, i.e. donors, surrogates, patients and children; second, the operation of a commercial market in human gametes - especially eggs - and women's gestational services; and third a level of secrecy that helps to conceal unprofessional, unethical and illegal practices."

66 year old women is Britain's oldest mother-to-be

Even the economy has touched the IVF industry with reports of clinics struggling with slow economy.

Take a Stand With Me

As I write this letter to you, another young woman has just reached out to me with her tragic story about "donating" her eggs. I have another woman's story in the queue for our weekly email newsletter. And another woman shared with me that 50% of the women in her breast cancer survivor support group either donated their eggs or took the harmful drugs in order to try (unsuccessfully) to have a baby on her own.

At the same time, the New York State Stem Cell Science Ethics Committee met and has decided it was ethical and reasonable to pay women to "donate" their eggs for research. This should never be and this unethical practice must be stopped!

Take a stand with us and support our efforts now to stop this insanity.

I ask you today, to send a financial gift now to allow us to be able to continue our efforts to protect young women's health and to educate others on the dangers egg donation poses to women.

Everyday I meet new people who tell me, "I just didn't know of the health risks involved." Or, "I never knew that these advertisements offering such large sums of money were targeting young women on college campuses." And sadly this comment is too frequent, "I know someone who sold their eggs!" It is clear from our data and tracking that more and more people are learning about this grievous practice. When ever we run a story on egg donation, or another woman's unfortunate story, it is quickly opened and read and forwarded and picked up on countless sites around the world. Our efforts are working! However, we have much more work to do.

CBC is well positioned to address the unethical practice of egg donation and with your help we can:

- Protect women in the state of New York
- Reach millions of young women with the FACTS
- Complete our 30 minute educational film on Egg Donation
- Host numerous showings of our latest film "Lines that Divide: The Great Stem Cell Debate" across the country and over the summer!

These are most difficult times financially for all of us. We depend on each and every one of our readers to support us, even with small gifts – they all add up. Summertime is an especially challenging time as people are away and thoughts are on vacations – so make your donation now, before the height of summer is upon us!

CBC understands the connection between the infertility industry which is out of control and the cloning research – and the competition for the human egg. CBC understands best, the exploitation of these young and unsuspecting women who are told this is a safe procedure which can offer them some much needed cash.

Who else is standing in this gap? Where else can these women turn when their health goes bad?

Take a stand with us and support the CBC today. Even better, become a monthly supporter, so that we know we can count on you!

Thank you for your continued support of our efforts.

The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network

Posted using ShareThis

The 10 Best Chores to Outsource

The 10 Best Chores to Outsource  Pregnancy is listed as numero uno.  Can you believe it!  Surrogacy is getting so mainstream that it is just a dirty little chore which you can hire someone else to do for you.

Still Putting Pressure on Facebook to Pull Egg Donor Ads

The numbers in our group are growing so please, if you are on facebook, consider joining the group AND inviting your network to join us.  I'lve received the ads that facebook is running from four different people now - thank you all for sending them to me since this is what the facebook complaint department has asked for.

Here is a piece my daughter Katy wrote, regarding the one ad on facebook from EliteDonors.com If you aren't on facebook you can read it here:

Amongst the weight loss, cellulite reduction, online dating, and hair removal advertisements featured in the margins of my Facebook account, there have been an increasing amount of advertisements requesting college-age egg donors. With an alluring compensation of $100,000, I couldn't help but click on the ad. The ad took me directly to a site called "Elite Donors: Creating Happy Families", a site that recruits egg donors for infertile couples for the purpose of In Vitro Fertilization into the female client or surrogate. The site was plastered with photos of smiling babies and mothers, all with blond hair, blue eyes and perfect white teeth.
Intrigued to determine whether or not I have "elite" status, I searched their criteria for an eligible donor. The standards were as follows:
1. Height 5'9" or taller: You may apply if you are shorter, but it helps to have family members who are 5'9" or taller.
2. Caucasian: Check back in the future if you are a different heritage.
3. Very Attractive: Modeling experience is a plus, but not required.
4. Must Be 18-28 Years Old.
5. Proven Intelligence: We are looking for a donor who has graduated from a top 100 four-year college.
6. Athletic Ability: Looking for a donor who has a history of participating in athletics or dance. Playing or performing at a college or professional level is ideal.
7. No Genetic Medical Issues: This criterion is absolute.

So I'm thinking, 1-check, 2-check, 3-uh maybe if I did my make-up just right, 4-check, 5-Cal is top 100 right?, 6-check, 7-I'm healthy. So, what if I was one inch shorter, am I not "elite"? If I was Latina, or African American, would I only be worth $50,000? I don't have a 4.0 GPA, but maybe they'd be willing to still give me $75,000 for my eggs. I'd feel bad if they had to pay full price for a stupid baby.

Then I looked at the actual application. Questions pertaining to criterion 7 got a bit more detailed: Have you ever seen a therapist? Have you any allergies? List any surgical procedures. Well...when I was born I needed eye surgery. Just a minor procedure, nothing big. I think they'd still be willing to pay $50,000.

The questions continued: Do you wear prescription glasses? What is your current weight? Is anyone in your family obese? At this point, I started to get a little skiddish about my weight. I mean, they're looking for a very attractive athlete or dancer, they don't usually weigh a whole lot. I could always lose 15lbs and then re-apply, or I could apply as-is and maybe they'd settle for $25,000. I mean, no one could love a chubby kid, right?

Have you ever worn braces? Oh great. I was metal mouth from 8th to 9th grade. The left side of my jaw is slightly bigger than my right, so I needed two years of corrective alignment. No one would ever notice this asymmetry, but I guess if you look hard enough for a flaw, you will find it. After reading this last question, I realized I probably wouldn't qualify for Elite Donors. Would you?

I guess if these are the standards by which one measures women, we're not worth a whole lot, are we? Be more than what someone is willing to pay for you: protest egg donation advertisements on Facebook today.

Here is the ad:

COMPENSATION $100,000

Preferred Donor will meet the following criteria:

 

*Height 5’9 or Taller

*Caucasian

*Very Attractive

*18-28 years old

*Proven Intelligence

*Athletic Ability Preferred

*No Genetic Medical Issues

Facebook Take Down the Egg Donor Ads

Join me on Facebook to demand they stop allowing Egg Donor Ads targeting young women. This ad, which is small and hard to read is offering $100,000!!!