era@ncar.ucar.edu (Ed Arnold) (11/05/90)
Index Number: 11503 I picked up the paper yesterday and came across an article by Marlene Cimons of the L.A. Times, which claims that the anti-abortion movement has virtually halted the use of fetal tissue in research, and even current treatment, of disabilities such as Parkinson's, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and spinal cord injuries. The writer pointed out that permission to use fetal tissue is not sought until after a woman has decided to have an abortion. Nonetheless, Dr. John Wilke (President of the National Right to Life Committee) was quoted as saying, "The government should protect unborn babies, not stripmine them." In spite of the way the permission situation is setup, U.S. scientists are now steering clear of such research because it's become difficult to raise money, and very dangerous politically. I assume that means they're afraid that someone like Wilke will wave their picture and call them Hitler in a press conference. I am distressed that the anti-abortion movement would behave so as to guarantee that the fetuses aborted by those women who choose abortion, can never be used in a way that can literally provide life, or effective treatment for a serious disability, to another person. How do other people, and especially those who have disabilities that might be treatable by such research, feel about this issue? -- Ed Arnold * NCAR * POB 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000 * 303-497-1253(voice) 303-497-1137(fax) * era@ncar.ucar.edu [128.117.64.4] * era@ncario.BITNET era@ncar.UUCP * Edward.Arnold@f809.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG
sommers@pilot.njin.net (Mamaliz @ The Soup Kitchen) (11/14/90)
Index Number: 11659 There was a congressional hearing on the subject. Epilepsy, diabetes, parkinson and some other groups testified. All such research has been ended. This is disgusting. We need this research. For more information about the subject, you might want to contact Henry Waxman's (D-Ca) subcommitee. I don't remember the exact name of the cmmitee. liz