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Paralyzed
Woman Walks After Stem Cell Treatments
Another
Adult Stem Cell Result Goes Largely Unnoticed. Nevada
Policymakers Should Take Note
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 6, 2004
ABC
News reports “A South Korean woman paralysed for
20 years is walking again after scientists repaired
her damaged spine using stem cells derived from
umbilical cord blood.”
Thirty-seven-year-old Hwang Mi-Soon told the
media that she thought she would never walk again.
Two
other women who were paralyzed have been able to
walk recently with the aid of braces.
Laura Dominguez and Susan Fajt, both of the
United States were paralyzed with severe spinal cord
injuries. Both
are now able to walk with the aid of braces after
receiving treatments with their own adult stem cells,
Dominguez was a quadriplegic at the age of 16 after an
accident. Treatments
using her own olfactory sinus stem cells have helped
her to walk with braces. Fajt benefited from an experimental new adult stem cell
treatment. A
dramatic video was shown to members of a Senate
committee in July showing Dominguez swimming without
assistance.
Not one of these treatments involved embryonic stem
cells. Embryonic
stem cells are procured by killing human embryos.
Americans widely reject creating a supply of
human embryos for research and believe it is immoral.
There are over 80 treatments using
non-embryonic stem cells or “adult stem cells.” More than 300 human trials are currently being conducted with
these adult stem cells.
There are no treatments or current human trials
involving embryonic stem cells.
While researchers say that more research is
needed and verification is required in regards to
these women with spinal cord injuries, there’s no
doubt what the media and politicians would be writing
about and saying if these advances or even a glimmer
of hope had been achieved with embryonic stem cells
It
is possible that some advances will come from
embryonic stem cell research if given time despite all
of the ethical and practical problems of making
embryonic stem cells work.
But before Nevada law and policymakers get
caught up in the hysteria sweeping other states over
the alleged magic of embryonic stem cell research and
appropriate taxpayer funding for embryonic stem cell
research or cloning-under the guise of creating
embryonic stem cells, they should look at the stem
cell scoreboard:
Adult
stem cells 80, embryonic stem cells 0.
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