Michigan is in the national news because of a disturbing development
in human fetal stem cell experimentation.
Neuralstem, Inc. announced that it has received approval from the
Food and Drug Administration to expand an amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) Phase II study to the University of
Michigan.
The stem cells used in the study come from spinal cord tissue taken
from a healthy, 8-week-old aborted baby. Phase I of the trial tested
whether human fetal stem cells can safely be injected into the
spinal cord. According to Neuralstem, the aim of Phase II is to
obtain the maximum tolerated dose.
Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said,
"Experimentation which relies on the stem cells from a healthy,
voluntarily aborted child is unethical. Using the remains of aborted
babies in the hopes of helping others lacks an acceptance of human
dignity -- for all members of the human family."
Right to Life of Michigan Legislative Director Ed Rivet questioned a
"bait and switch" reality regarding stem cell research.
Rivet said, "In 2008, Michigan faced a ballot proposal where
so-called 'left over embryos' would be eligible for destructive stem
cell research. But the first human trial to come to Michigan after
five years uses spinal cord cells from an aborted baby. How did we
cross all these ethical lines? How has the 'right to abortion'
evolved into using healthy developing babies as fodder for
scientific research?"
