Letter: No compassion shown for victims of disease

Sunday, July 23, 2006 | 7:42 a.m.

We all hope that President Bush and his family will be spared having to witness the effects of the grotesque maladies that afflict so many people here and around the world, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and Parkinson's. No cure is yet available, and to those who are affected, they are truly ravaged by these horrific circumstances.

Many of the world's most prominent scientists have stated that there is great hope for possible cures in the future with stem-cell research. But until that happens, all that the loved ones of these unfortunate people can do is to helplessly watch the massive deterioration until their ultimate demise.

President Bush chose to veto the bill that would have sent stem-cell research into motion with the use of new stem-cell lines. It would have been the catalyst to start to eliminate the suffering of so many people in years to come - yes, he would have been a hero in this conquest. Other countries have already started the research and we all sincerely hope they achieve the results to rid this planet of these horrific diseases.

The president's veto satisfied his political base but left untold numbers twisting in the wind waiting for a miracle - any miracle to relieve their suffering. What a pity.

Paul Seidman, Henderson