BlogHer - What You Might Not Know About Stem Cell Research - Comments

Blood is the main resource &

Andery — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:15:26 -0500

Blood is the main resource & people who are suffering from injuries are in a greate need of blood so plz donate blood & visit cordblood for further information.

Great information, Catherine.

Nordette — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:06:47 -0500

You certainly educated me with this post.

"Love is liquid. Brew and be drunkards!" ~~Nordette. And here's a link to the blog.

With Hope

Creatively Belle — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 07:21:20 -0500

Do all hospitals and birthing centers now have core blood donation? I hope so.

You know when collecting blood for population use was first started there were lots of arguements for and against it. This happened between the wars, between 1918 and 1939.

The difference between survival rates for war casualties between the WW1 1914 - 1918 war to the WW2 1939 - 1945 war was huge because of the use of blood products and improvements in treatment. 100,000's of lives were saved in the 2nd World War and after that it was taken as normal.

So Yes, make the core blood donation happen and be part of the change to normality.

Smiles
Belinda

www.CreativelyBelle.Blog.com
www.CreativelyBelle.com

That sounds like a great idea Cass.

Catherine Morgan — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:26:09 -0500

I think donating your cord blood sounds like a great idea. I wish it had been an option for me to donate my cord blood when I had my children. You're right...it seems like a "no brainer" to me too.

Well congratulations and good luck with your pregnancy.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and CatherineBlogs.com

Cord blood donation

Cassandra — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:52:56 -0500

I'm pregnant with our first child, almost 17 weeks. I'm going to talk to my husband about it, but I'm really really hoping we can do this. Once we agree, I'll be bringing it up at my next ob appt (20 weeks). For me, it's a no brainer. There is no reason for me to NOT donate it.

Cass

Thanks for the comment Belinda

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:43:31 -0500

Thanks for the comment Belinda. You make a lot of really great points.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and CatherineBlogs.com

What are the Costs?

Creatively Belle — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:52:20 -0500

I too find the arguements against stem cell research often to be strange and all that I've heard have been based on mis-information.

Developments in medical research and treatments have always needed ethical considerations and discussion and I think that is healthy and crucial.

Having heard a recent discussion on the radio about stem cell research I got wondering what is the cost each year alone for Alzheimer's for all of society - carers, work productivity (for carers, patients, family etc etc etc), health services, health funds, medicine, research, changes to homes, transport, equipment, all of the costs involved in living with, managing, caring for, researching and finding out about Alzheimer's?

What differences would there be in the world if Alzheimer's could be healed? Stem cell research could be the way to heal Alzheimer's. Imagine the impact this would have on all the people in the world who are carers? They could get their life back, they could return to work and participate in productive work society. Caring for loved ones is valuable but it is about putting yourself second to another and it is a huge change with lots of deep impacts.

Stem cell research has the ability to change not just Alzheimer's but at least another dozen (or 100) other illnesses that have such huge impacts in our societies. We all know carers, even if they aren't within our families, and the sacrifices they make. We could all end up needing care or being carers at the current rate of society.

Yes, we need careful and sensitive ethical considerations to be respected, I for one don't want clones but that isn't what stem cell research is about. I don't want stem cells being thrown out when they can be used to heal.

I want to see illnesses that break hearts and rip up lives to be healed just like we've got rid of the issue of polio in Western societies (and need to do so in developing soceities) we can do the same for Alzheimer's and other illnesses.

Personally I just think knee jerk reactions with mis-information is a failing of humans while I'd rather celebrate the good grace of humanity.

I hope all who are hurting from illness and loss find comfort in their hearts and start their own healing towards happy and full lives, just as the loved ones would want for us.

Belinda

www.CreativelyBelle.com/Sale
www.CreativelyBelle.blog.com

There is a 3rd Alternative: Embryo Adoption

Crimson Wife — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:01:40 -0500

No, I don't think embryos should thrown out as medical waste. I think they should be placed up for adoption if the genetic parents decide not to implant them for whatever reason. Perhaps the government could devise some sort of tax incentive to encourage infertile couples to choose embryo adoption.

You're welcome Catherine.

Dana Loesch — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:56:23 -0500

You're welcome Catherine. I feel like my son has already helped someone at his young age. I hope the boy's treatment was successful. I cannot imagine ...

I concur re: the advertising methods of private blood banks; it angers me. The minuscule chance that you would need it does not justify the exorbitant amount of money private banks charge in annual fees. I wish here was more of an effort to get the word out about cord blood donation as opposed to private banking.

Dana
Mamalogues.com
In the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Pop Mama
Since Eve

I agree cord blood is very important.

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:31:33 -0500

I agree that cord blood is very important, but I do think the advertising that plays on the insecurities of new parents is wrong.

I think that all avenues of stem cell research need to continue to be explored, and that includes cord blood and adult stem cells...But we can not prevent researchers from using embryonic stem cells for research, because the potential is so great for finding cures with these cells.

Thanks for your comment and links.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and CatherineBlogs.com

Cord Blood Donation

TheHolls — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:52:53 -0500

Re: cord blood, it's interesting to see what has happened with cord blood banking advertising. I think the ads -- urging parents to bank their baby's blood as "insurance" against possible future illness -- are really preying on new parents' insecurities, and they really subvert the facts, which is that it's unlikely your baby's cord blood could be used to treat THEM.

That said, I think cord blood donation is a wonderful alternative that really DOES have the potential to help others, just as Dana's story shows. One thing to note, though, is that you have to Link Textplan in advance for this, usually by 34 weeks or so, and you'll have to get a blood test for infectious disease.

I feel really strongly about the need to push forward with stem cell research in general -- it was really hammered home for me a few years ago when I wrote about an amazing woman who was diagnosed with ALS while she was pregnant with her first baby, shortly after she was married. She became a really fiesty advocate for this research during the short time before she died (in early 2005). It was as if she was being held captive to a slow-moving science -- maybe it wouldn't have been able to help regenerate her dying motor neurons, but it was incredibly frustrating to know how much politics was holding up the process that might have helped her find out.

Link TextThe Daily Meds

I think it is great that you were able to help a sick child...

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 01:14:53 -0500

I think it is great that you were able to help a sick little boy with the cord blood from your first child. I'm sure the boy's mother much be so grateful, I can't even imagine how hard it must be to have a child that is so sick.

Thanks for your comment, and for sharing your story.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and CatherineBlogs.com

I donated my cord blood with

Dana Loesch — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 00:16:00 -0500

I donated my cord blood with both pregnancies. A couple years ago the cord blood bank contacted me and told me that my firstborn's cord blood was a match for a very sick little boy and they were going to use it to treat him.

Interestingly, during the big stem cell debate in my state a year or so ago, the fact that science had discovered a way to "regress" (for the lack of a better term) adult/etc. stem cells to that full-potential embryonic stage went unnoticed. Now there's success, which could ultimately defuse the entire argument.

Dana
Mamalogues.com
In the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Pop Mama
Since Eve

I would NOT like to see restrictions on In-Vitro Fertilization.

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:48:05 -0500

Your comment implies that I would like to see restrictions put on In-Vitro Fertilization...and that could not be further from the truth. The truth is; I have a problem with anyone claiming to be "pro-life" on one hand, but taking the stand that throwing stem cells in the trash is preferable to using them for research on the other.

To say you would be for restrictions on IVF doesn't really justify the fact that stem cells that could be used for research right now (and possibly save millions of lives) are instead being tossed in the trash. If you truly believe these cells are "life", then you should be OUTRAGED! If in your mind a life is being lost with these stem cells, then I would imagine you might think I life lost to the betterment of humanity is preferable to a life lost to the trash can. I know that is how I feel.

As far as...

to say that "no babies are destroyed by ESCR" implies a certain POV.

...this makes no sense to me???

And about...

Instead of spending taxpayer money to destroy embryos for stem cell research, why not fund cord blood collection?

...when I hear this argument I often think..."Does this person think it is o.k. to destroy embryos as long as tax payer dollars are not funding it?"

But my actual answer is...The scientists that are doing this research are the ones that know better than we do what type of stem cells have the best potential for cures. And, once again...If the stem cells are going to be tossed in the trash anyway, why not let the scientists attempt to save millions of lives?

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and CatherineBlogs.com

Hmmm...

Crimson Wife — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:02:37 -0500

Well, to say that "no babies are destroyed by ESCR" implies a certain POV. Someone who believes that life begins at conception would consider an embryo to be a pre-born child. That person would also not see any moral distinction between destroying a human life in the name of science (ESCR) and destroying a human life in the name of convenience (abortion).

If an individual kills an adult for the purposes of harvesting the victim's organs, would you say that murder is less evil than a person who commits murder for some other reason?

I agree with you about the IVF. I would personally like to see restrictions on high-tech reproductive techniques such that only the number of embryos that will be implanted in one round can be created. If couples wish to freeze their eggs and sperm separately for a later IVF attempt, that's fine.

There are ways of getting stem cells that do not require the destruction of a human embryo such as umbilical cord blood donation. Right now most cord blood is discarded as medical waste. Instead of spending taxpayer money to destroy embryos for stem cell research, why not fund cord blood collection?

What You Might Not Know About Stem Cell Research

Catherine Morgan — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 22:49:25 -0500

The debate and controversy surrounding stem cell research is so pervasive and passionate that we can get lost in the argument. Over the last few months I have heard people claim to be against stem cell research for reasons that are not based in fact. Here is just one example, this is a comment from one of my posts on stem cell research...

How can one support abortion which takes a life, and then support taking cells from the remains to help preserve life? -- see post and all comments

Shockingly, this person is actually under the impression that stem cells are taken from aborted fetuses. Of course I can understand how someone who is against abortion would also be against using cells from an aborted fetus. However, stem cell research has nothing to do with abortion. The politicians would like you to see a parallel here, because they know how polarizing the abortion issue has been, and how it can be used effectively to manipulate people to vote a certain way.

Now, I'm going to ask you to do something that many of you will not want to do. I know how valuable your time is, but before anyone can make an argument either for or against stem cell research, they must know the facts. I admit that even I did not know all of the facts. It's a complicated issue, and no matter how smart you are, you may very well learn something you did not know by watching this video. Yes, I'm going to ask you to watch a 12 minute video. I know you don't want to, twelve minutes goes past what most of us want to devote to a YouTube video, but I assure you it will be worth it.

Please view this twelve minute YouTube video that clearly explains stem cells and stem cell research. If the video is not appearing on this post you can click here to see the video.

The Stem Cell Research Foundation has a link to facts and frequently asked questions on stem cell research, here are a few of the facts...

Stem cells are unspecialized cells that have two important characteristics that distinguish them from other cells in the body. First, they can replenish their numbers for long periods through cell division. Second, after receiving certain chemical signals, they can differentiate, or transform into specialized cells with specific functions, such as a heart cell or nerve cell.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from 4- to 5-day-old embryos. At this stage, the embryos are spherical and are known as blastocysts.

The blastocysts used for creating ESC lines are derived from eggs that were fertilized in in vitro fertilization clinics but never implanted in a womanâ€™s uterus. The resulting embryos were frozen and later donated for research purposes with the informed consent of the donors. Currently, there are over 400,000 unused frozen embryos in U.S. fertility clinics.

It seems the stem cell debate inevitably turns to religion and "right to life" issues. To this I would just like to know...Where is the outrage for the destruction of the "embryonic" stem cells that are being destroyed in this country every single day?

This is a one minute video that demonstrates what is currently happening to unused frozen embryos "LIFE" from fertility clinics. These are the same embryos, that could be used to advance scientific research and to save lives......
(if the video is not appearing click here to view)

My personal opinion on this issue is to treat these leftover stem cells the same way we treat organ donation. If parents tragically lose their child do to some type of accident, but the child's organs are still viable for transplant, parents are asked if they would like to donate the child's organs. They are not told they have to, they are given a choice. We would never dream of making a law that tells these parents they have to donate or that they are not allowed to donate, and that is because it should always be up to them. I believe the same respect should be given to the parents of these unused embryos. Let the people involved in the in-vitro fertilization process decide whether to donate these embryos to other infertile couples, or to donate them to scientific research, or have them discarded. This is a decision that should be made by the parents, not the government, not the church, and not by you or me.

I would suggest that if you are against stem cell research, then you should absolutely not be forced to donate any of your stem cells, or use any treatment involving stem cells. This is your choice, and no one should take this choice away from you. And, in ten or twenty years, if you or a family member could be saved with a treatment that began as stem cell research, no one will stop you from benefiting from these advancements, it will be your choice then too. So I would ask that you please consider being personally against stem cell research without forcing your belief onto others.

What do other BlogHers think about this issue? Is this an important issue to you? Have you blogged about it?

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and CatherineBlogs.com