Fed: No need for embryonic stem cell research says doctor
By Vera Devai
BRISBANE, April 4 AAP - People were grossly misinformed about the need for embryonicstem cell research, a bio-ethicist said today.
World Federation of Doctors Who Respect Human Life spokesman Dr David van Gend saidthe need for medical research companies to use embryos was obsolete because scientistswere already successfully using stem cells from adults to treat serious diseases.
Dr van Gend said lobby groups had painted the picture that embryonic stem cell researchwould be the cure of all serious diseases but was simply not true.
"Embryonic stem cell have achieved not one single thing therapeutically except forone disastrous trial in Parkinson's patients where one man got a tumour in his brain ofteeth and hair," Dr van Gend said.
"But you get all this highly effective and well paid lobbying by the IVF industry forembryonic research because that's their livelihood and if embryos are sidelined then theyare sidelined."
Dr van Gend said the future lay with adult stem cells therapy which had been successfullyused in treating stroke, corneal blindness and spinal injury.
The New Scientist Magazine reported in January that the University of Minnesota researchersdiscovered adult bone marrow stem cells could turn into every tissue in the body.
Until now only stem cells from embryos were thought to have such properties, the magazinereported.
Meanwhile, the Stem Cell Journal reported last September researchers were a long wayoff from using embryonic stem cells in therapeutic applications because of great concernover its potential to create tumours.
Dr van Gend said IVF and embryonic companies were leaving the public in the dark aboutthe achievements of adult stem cells and the grave problems with the embryonic field.
"We all want these cures but we can get them and are already getting them without furtherviolating adult's treatment of offspring in this way," he said.
"We can get the goods without messing with embryos."
Dr van Gend said the federal and state governments should concentrate on building betterresearch facilities for adult stem cell therapy at the Council of Australian Governmentsmeeting tomorrow instead of looking to legalise the unnecessary use of embryos.
AAP ved/sc/mg/de
KEYWORD: STEMCELL ADULT
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