Letter: Let’s use the research that has been proven

Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2006 | 7:08 a.m.

Your Sunday editorial regarding the "off shoring" of embryonic stem cell research disregards the history of such use to date. Embryonic stem cells, now being used for medical research, have produced no results other than the many promises of your "top minds in the field." The decision of the president does not prevent the continuation of embryonic stem cell research. Unfortunately, private companies are heavily involved in such research. But it needs to be repeated that all this research has produced nothing, whereas the use of adult stem cells has produced many successes and continues to demonstrate high potential for treatment of serious disease. In addition, the use of rich umbilical cord blood also holds great promise. Why not put our money into the proven research?

The editorial gives short shrift to the president's reason for denying government funds for embryonic stem cell research. His moral opposition to the destruction of nascent human life should not be discarded so easily. The embryo contains all the DNA of the adult person and there can be no argument that the destruction of an embryo prevents further development of a human being! If all embryos, left undisturbed, will develop into a baby, then destruction of that embryo denies life to that baby.

For those of us who believe that life is a sacred gift, any funding of embryonic destruction for whatever purpose is abhorrent. But to use government funds is to deny that section of our Declaration of Independence, which states "... that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." All are entitled to life whether they be nascent, a new born babe or 85 years old!

William F. Brennan, Las Vegas