Obama: change for good?


already planning to reverse these. 24 Erosion of protection for conscientious objection would be deeply compromising


for bioethics, a field with a Christian origin birthed to protect human dignity. 25 Exposing healthcare providers to prosecution for non-complicity with


procedures they deem unethical or immoral


guarantees a Supreme Court challenge, whilst inviting a mass exodus from obstetrics and gynaecology, family medicine, and paediatrics for pro-life physicians and medical students.


The ensuing provider shortage would be crippling, considering the US is one-third evangelical. 26


stem cell research


Obama supports federal funding for ESC research. 27


The


public and press share misconceptions regarding ESC versus adult


stem cell (ASC) research results.


Every one of more than 80 stem cell


treatments benefiting 18 nucleus easter ‘09


humans has come from ASCs and their corollaries from placental, umbilical, amniotic fluid and other sources. With the advent of induced pluripotent stem cells (human adult stem cells reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state) in 2007, the full potential of stem cell therapy may well be realised without the sacrifice of another embryo. Sir Ian Wilmut (University of Edinburgh), of Dolly the sheep fame, is walking away from the cloning technology he created in favour of the new direct reprogramming method. Nobel Prize winner Sir Martin Evans concurs, ‘This will be the long- term solution’. 28


‘Even a


scientist who cares not a whit about the morality of embryo destruction will adopt this technique because it is so simple and powerful. The embryonic stem cell debate is over,’ 29


proclaimed Dr Charles


Krauthammer. If only life were such smooth sailing. California’s Geron Corporation announced in January its plans to begin the first human treatment trials with human ESCs. ‘The one hope that everybody has is that nothing bad happens,’ was the less than reassuring comment from another stem cell researcher. 30


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