Stem cell research

[30ashopper]

I tend to disagree with that. The executives that run chains of Dialysis clinics and Cancer treatment centers do, but I can guarantee that anyone working the front lines would slap you silly. I think 99% of all nurses, doctors, and even aides would much prefer to be unemployed than watch the suffering that cancer and kidney patients go through.

Only because they don't want people like me pointing out the obvious in public. Doctors that specialize in chemo treatment, the centers they work for, the staff they hire, the drug companies that keep them stocked up chemo drugs and other treatment medicines and hardware, the surgeons that specialize in cancer surgery, hospitals... you name it. Trust me, if somebody found a cure for cancer tomorrow, a lot of people would be out of work and a lot of businesses would fail.

 

[scooterbug44]

Only because they don't want people like me pointing out the obvious in public. Doctors that specialize in chemo treatment, the centers they work for, the staff they hire, the drug companies that keep them stocked up chemo drugs and other treatment medicines and hardware, the surgeons that specialize in cancer surgery, hospitals... you name it. Trust me, if somebody found a cure for cancer tomorrow, a lot of people would be out of work and a lot of businesses would fail.

OR, they would then switch their attention to another disease that affects a large segment of the population - like AIDS, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, autism etc.

"Curing cancer" doesn't mean a sign appears over your head when you get it and they then give you a magic pill you take one time - it means they find a medicine or treatment so effective it becomes the standard and gives people more time. They still have to make the diagnosis, treat you, follow-up etc. so the horrible idea that they are stalling a treatment to make $ is not valid.

 

[30ashopper]

This is weird, I find myself deriding ?big business? for being ineffective and scooter, sgb, and traderx are arguing against me defending it. This has been a weird week, and it?s only Tuesday! :shock:

 

[Mango]

I am 100% in favor of stem cell research; just opposed to government funding and not on any basis of religious or moralistic reasoning: we are going to have a two trillion dollar budget deficit. At some point, it seems prudent to question what we can afford.
Despite Bush Veto, Stem Cell Research Abounds - Forbes.com

I agree, and here's why. When scientists, doctors or labs receive government grants for research, it's my understanding that they have to follow NIH guidelines or specific criteria for the reports of their findings. This limits the range of knowledge that could be acquired because they do not-- or can not--think out of the box. Case in point-- Westchester Medical Center in New York had a research grant for Lyme Disease Studies, but the only people who could be put in the study were those who showed a positive titer and had a bulls eye rash. This was many years ago when the tests for Lyme disease weren't as accurate. (still not completely) Now it's also known that only about 50% of the people who do have Lyme actually get a bulls eye. So, patients going to the Lyme Clinic, who could have had ticks spelling Lyme disease on their forehead, were disregarded because these doctors had a government grant to study it and also produce a vaccine. If you didn't have a POS test and a bull's eye, they showed you the door. Almost criminal.

If the monies come from the private sector for stem cell research, the driving factor for the investors is to find the next cure all or preventative medicine because it could generate huge profits. The only time that government should interfere is if a huge discovery is made and the end result is not available to those who need it because of cost. Also, I do not want to pay for some mediocre researcher to be living off the government coffers. When it's investor money they will look for the best and the brightest.

 

[Matt J]

The other problem with private research is that the cure or outcome can be patented and locked away. Pharm companies currently do this if the pill is not considered marketable.

http://www.slate.com/id/2066600/

Since the pharmaceutical companies are the economic engine behind drug development, and since there is no incentive for them to find new uses for old drugs, such research is no one's mission. A Wall Street Journal story last month nicely illustrated the problem, describing the inability of Dr. G. Umberto Meduri to get sufficient backing for a major study to prove what his small, promising studies have indicated: Low doses of common steroids can help prevent death by sepsis, an often deadly bloodstream infection. The steroids, no longer under patent, cost about $50 per course of treatment. Eli Lilly & Co., the Journal points out, has just released a new sepsis drug that costs $7,000 per course. And Lilly is spending millions to promote its drug.

I can't stand this guy normally:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_UF8-qFAWU"]YouTube - Cure for Cancer - Pharmaceutical companies VS the World[/ame]

 

[Andy A]

I tend to disagree with that. The executives that run chains of Dialysis clinics and Cancer treatment centers do, but I can guarantee that anyone working the front lines would slap you silly. I think 99% of all nurses, doctors, and even aides would much prefer to be unemployed than watch the suffering that cancer and kidney patients go through.

You are right on. Take many trips to M.D. Anderson and note the care and compassion exhibited by their personnel toward the patients and their relatives. Not everything is about materialistic in nature or has to do with money.

 

[biddieann]

Stem cell research.....ask most mothers of autistic children, as am I, what they think about that subject. My beautiful 18 year old boy is soooo close to being "typical" but so far from it at the same time. He can surf the web with lightening speed and find every high end men's clothing site that he loves, while listening to his ipod touch, keep an eye on everyone else's business simultaneously but cannot speak or tie his own shoe. His perseveration is shirts, he will approach perfect strangers and want to look at their shirt tag. we keep a close watch on him and try to explain the situation. It's a mystery.
Just one story of thousands, stem cell research is here and it's the future and it's hope. A little request, if you run across a parent in public with an obviously autistic child, have compassion, not judment.
by the way, one of my daughters is majoring in genetic biology with a minor in molecular biology. Man, I need to get off this computer, my ambien is kicking in . Sorry if that is TMI.

 

[Lynnie]

Stem cell research.....ask most mothers of autistic children, as am I, what they think about that subject. My beautiful 18 year old boy is soooo close to being "typical" but so far from it at the same time. He can surf the web with lightening speed and find every high end men's clothing site that he loves, while listening to his ipod touch, keep an eye on everyone else's business simultaneously but cannot speak or tie his own shoe. His perseveration is shirts, he will approach perfect strangers and want to look at their shirt tag. we keep a close watch on him and try to explain the situation. It's a mystery.
Just one story of thousands, stem cell research is here and it's the future and it's hope. A little request, if you run across a parent in public with an obviously autistic child, have compassion, not judment.
by the way, one of my daughters is majoring in genetic biology with a minor in molecular biology. Man, I need to get off this computer, my ambien is kicking in . Sorry if that is TMI.

I think I've met your son - he is absolutely delightful! My Big Sister has a Downs Syndrome baby and when he was born 23 years ago (he has survived lot), someone told her that "Special People are blessed with 'Special' Children." I have never forgotten that! I hope there are major advancements with our medical research!!

 

[sunspotbaby]

In China, every mother that gives birth is required to donate the cord for stem cells. They are currently doing a procedure that improves vision in children born with ONH, optic nerve hypoplasia. If the child has at least some of the bundle of optic nerves, stem cells can provide new growth of those nerves, allowing children to have some vision.

I just don't understand why we don't have a policy like that in the U.S.

I guess that would put a damper on those businesses that "bank" your cord blood for you.

 

[traderx]

In China, every mother that gives birth is required to donate the cord for stem cells. They are currently doing a procedure that improves vision in children born with ONH, optic nerve hypoplasia. If the child has at least some of the bundle of optic nerves, stem cells can provide new growth of those nerves, allowing children to have some vision.

I just don't understand why we don't have a policy like that in the U.S.

I guess that would put a damper on those businesses that "bank" your cord blood for you.

The words required and donate do not go together. Think: confiscate. Do you really want the US government to require women to do this?

Apparently there is a tendency to believe that since Bush blocked fed funds from supporting stem cell research that the US is in stem cell dark ages. Nothing could be further from the truth. We pioneered stem cell research and by far are the leaders. The research effort has been a combination of small, pioneering private companies and universities.