PROFESSIONStem-cell research divides doctors along with countryThe physician community is split on whether federal funding should be used to fund embryonic stem-cell research.By Tanya Albert, AMNews staff. Aug. 6, 2001. The debate surrounding federal funding for stem-cell research has reached fever pitch in the nation's capital as scientists, medical ethicists, relatives of the chronically and terminally ill and parents of children who were once frozen embryos all offer up their opinions on the controversial research method. Mary Tyler Moore and Michael J. Fox have appeared before Congress making the case that embryonic stem-cell research could be the key to finding the cure for diabetes and Parkinson's disease. Parents who are parents by virtue of in-vitro fertilization say using frozen embryos for research that hold the potential to become children is reprehensible. Pope John Paul II called the research morally bankrupt during President Bush's visit to the Vatican in July. But leading U.S. scientists say the research holds the most promise in finding cures for several chronic debilitating and terminal conditions. Senators and representatives have weighed in on both sides of the debate, with abortion opponents Sens. Bill Frist, MD (R, Tenn.), Gordon Smith (R, Ore.) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R, Texas) saying they support federal funding for the research. But everyday physicians -- those most likely to see the benefits any such research could bring in improving patient care -- have been largely absent from the public debate. Most of the dozen physicians AMNews interviewed about the issue said they supported research using embryos that otherwise would be thrown away. The AMA was among 123 patient, research and academic institutions that expressed strong support for federal funding for research using human pluripotent stem cells in a letter to President Bush earlier this year.
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Copyright 2001 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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