Obama to lift ban on embryonic stem cell research
As President elect Barack Obama prepares to take over the White House in a couple of months, his transition team is putting together a list of Presidential executive orders that may be rescinded during his first days in office. At the top of the list is the executive order banning embryonic stem cell research. This order, signed by President George W. Bush, does not ban stem cell research, but it does ban the creation of human embryos for research purposes.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) shall conduct and support research on the isolation, derivation, production, and testing of stem cells that are capable of producing all or almost all of the cell types of the developing body and may result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions, but are derived without creating a human embryo for research purposes or destroying, discarding, or subjecting to harm a human embryo or fetus.
I understand the purpose of stem cell research and it’s implications for diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease, but it disturbs me to think that human embryos will be created and then destroyed, all in the name of research. This is especially true, considering the fact that adult stem cells can be used to treat different diseases, without the creation and destroying of the human embryo. The science of stem cell research is advancing so quickly, it is unclear to me why Obama would lift the ban and allow human embryos to be created and destroyed. To create a human life with the express purpose of destroying it in the name of research is a dangerous path to go on.
During the general election, I wrote several articles detailing my concerns with Barack Obama and his disregard for human life, when it comes to abortion rights. His record has shown he is very willing to fight any and all efforts to restrict abortion. I want to give the man the benefit of the doubt, but if his administration starts off by clearing the path for killing human embryos, then it gives me pause to think about the direction he will lead this country.
That’s my take!
Larry
