Plans state lawmakers unveiled to adopt an embryonic stem cell research policy have received opposition on the grounds of ethical irresponsibility and unnecessary scientific advancement.
State Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, said having a policy statement would grant the government authority to monitor any lapses in unethical or unorthodox scientific research.
'It's a policy statement that says we permit the research and if it's supported with state funds that there will be an institutional review board and an oversight committee,' Berceau said.
Susan Armacost, legislative director for Wisconsin Right to Life, said the WRTL is urging lawmakers to look at alternative measures to embryonic stem cell research.
'Embryonic stem cells haven't helped one single person. They have not cured or alleviated one single disease or condition, period,' Armacost said. 'They keep trying to make it look like they're making success.'
Armacost also said it would be unfair for taxpayers to fund the research and foot the bill.
She said there are many other routes science could take that would be less controversial and more effective.
'Why aren't we going the ethical route instead of destroying embryos to get stem cells when we have ethical means to do so that have been successful'? Armacost asked. 'We want stem-cell research to go forward from umbilical cord blood numbers of adult stems from individuals.'
UW-Madison anatomy professor Karen Downs said cord blood research is more limited in scope compared with embryonic stem cells.
'Embryonic stem cells have the capacity to differentiate all somatic and germ cells, whereas cord blood cells are thought to be more restricted in their potential,' Downs said.
Berceau said there is growing popularity and support for embryonic stem cell research.
'Public opinion polls show that a lot of people believe this research should go forward, so we are basically trying to get a statement out of this Legislature that we do support stem cell research,' Berceau said.
She also added this proposal would greatly help those suffering from disease.
'Born people have a right to life as well as the unborn,' Berceau said. 'If we have the scientific knowledge to keep somebody alive or improve their quality of life if they have a chronic disease, born people deserve as much respect and as much protection of their lives as the unborn.'
