Reuters reports that President Bush used his power of veto today for the first time in 5 years by vetoing legislation that would give researchers more expansive use of embryonic stem cells. The bill would have, in effect, allowed for the destruction of embryos for the stated purpose of research.
The embryonic stem cell research is touted by many scientists as the next "big thing" in medical breakthroughs. To hear some scientists talk, embryonic stem cells will one day be able to cure just about anything. So far, in just two days of reading stories about this, I've heard diabetes, Alzheimers, Parkinsons disease and paralysis could all possibly be cured, just to name a few. These are devastating diseases, to be certain, and any rational person wants to find a cure for them as soon as possible. However, the research on embryonic stem cells requires a high price. The embryos must first be destroyed, and doing so, I believe, destroys a human life.
Let me take a moment here and share a quick personal background, which of course, colors my perspective on this issue. As I've mentioned before, I had trouble getting pregnant and so I delved into the world of fertility procedures for about a year before finally receiving my miracle. In my case, no fancy procedures were necessary, just a standard fertility drug with low risks (and a lot of prayer and doctors visits) did the trick. I was a lucky fertility patient.
I say this because when I first realized that there might be a serious problem, I did what I always do...I researched my options like crazy. Infertility is an odd "condition" because only those who have been through it really understand (probably a lot like cancer patients might say) and because of the highly private and invasive nature of procedures and testing, it isn't something you want to talk about with just anyone, relatives included, no matter how wonderful they might be. As a result I, like many others, felt very alone with my problems and didn't know where to turn for advice and opinions. Thus, my online life began.
While researching my condition, I stumbled across a medical message board and decided to post a few questions that I'd been thinking about. I got answers and opinions galore and suddenly found myself surrounded by women who were going through the same thing I was. I spent over a year chatting with the same large group of women, not only about our fertility issues, but also anything else that came up, as women do. I became friends with these women in that time and cheered as each new person finally got their miracle, and wept when procedure after procedure didn't work for others. Along the way, I learned a lot about all kinds of fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization, or IVF.
As I said, I was one of the lucky ones. I got pregnant with Emily after a year and a half, with only a basic fertility treatment. Some of the women I talked with are still waiting and they've done it all. They have tried IVF with their own eggs and some have even used donated eggs or donated embryos, which have been harvested from another woman who, for whatever reason chose not to use them for herself and did not want them to be wasted. For some, the only chance of having a baby of their own is through this kind of embryo donation. And for some, it works and a miraculous baby is born out of the kindness of total strangers. It truly is a touching and wonderful thing, even to witness from afar.
So for me, this issue is a no-brainer. I have personally seen, albeit from afar, new life born to the most grateful couples from these embryos in question. I have witnessed women go from utter devastation and heartbreak, wondering if they would ever hold a child of their own in their arms, to complete and total joy when they finally find out that they are able to have a baby because of a donated embryo. Lives have been created and enriched, rather than wasted or destroyed.
On the flip-side, I have two grandparents who have suffered with Parkinsons' disease. One is gone now and the other is in the middle of the disease. It is not easy to see them go through this, to watch their lives wither away. I hope and pray that a cure can be found as soon as possible for this, and so many other devastating diseases, but I still believe that destroying another life is not the answer.
Researchers would have us all believe that embryonic stem cells promise all kinds of wonderful cures, but so far, the research does not bear this out. In fact, embryonic stem cell research is not nearly as promising as other types of stem cell research, most notably umbilical cord stem cell research. For the record, with what I currently know about it, I have no problem with the umbilical cord stem cell research. It seems very promising and instead of relying on the destruction of life, it relys on the creation of life. It seems to me that maybe instead of destroying embryos left and right in the hopes of discovering something, why not encourage the creation of new life and concentrate on studying the umbilical stem cells?
To me, this issue is purely political. If researchers can succeed in convincing enough people that the embryo isn't really a human life, then they are one step closer to being able to play God and that's a very dangerous game. I for one, am very glad that President Bush stuck to his promise to veto this legislation. Though conservatives have, of late, been a bit critical of the President on some issues, we should all applaud his firm stance on life.
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