Is Missouri sick of pro-Amendment 2 line "Don't worry your little head-let scientists decide what's right"?

Question

I just can't believe it doesn't make people mad to hear again and again, "We're doctors and scientists. We are the ones smart enough to make the ethical decisions that will set the course for the future."

The procedure Amendment 2 enshrines in the constitution of MO is already illegal in Canada, Germany, France, and several other countries. What about the scientists in those countries? Not as well versed in ethics as our American ones?

So what do you think? Does it make you mad? Don't start talking about "embryos that were going to be discarded anyway," because that's not at all what this amendment is about. The procedure, SCNT, means making cloned embryos "from scratch" (using a donor's egg plus a body cell's nucleus) so that you can harvest the stem cells. I respectfully ask, please don't answer if you haven't read the amendment. It's available at http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/ppStemCell.asp

Thanks very much!

Answer 1

You make a good point. It is not at all obvious that a technical medical training guarantees a solidly thought out ethical stance on any issue. This seems especially true when the scientists and doctors involved have a vested interest in this research going forward (billions in federal grant money, and much more in biomedical patents).

I read recently that there is an ethically less problematic process called ANT that can make stem cells without killing developing human beings. (see link)

These claims have been raised by other answers:
CLAIM 1. Sections 5, 6, 6a protect against unethical practices.
MY RESPONSE: If you were poor and I offered you $50,000 for your liver, would you "voluntarily" give it to me? Section 17 authorizes the following to be paid to a "voluntary donor:" "consideration (money) paid to a donor of human eggs or sperm by a fertilization clinic or sperm bank, as well as any other consideration expressly allowed by federal law." In other words, women will be paid for their eggs by a feltility clinic. These eggs will then be sold to researchers. This is the issue that feminists and many African American leaders have with Amendment 2. See link 2 below.

CLAIM 2: this amendment bans cloning or attempted cloning, so what's the problem?
MY RESPONSE: the amendment defines "cloning" in Section 6.2 as "to implant in a uterus or attempt to implant in a uterus anything other than the product of fertilization of an egg of a human female by a sperm of a human male for the purpose of initiating a pregnancy that could result in the creation of a human fetus, or the birth of a human being."
This means that you can clone all that you want, as long as you don't let the clone grow up. It enshrines in the constitution the requirement that these embryos be killed. Also, a group of 300 lawyers has pointed out that this doesn't necessarily mean that you can't implant the embryo for some other purpose than the creation of a human fetus. For an expert analysis of this issue, see link 3.

For these reasons, I am not comfortable "taking Mr. Danforth's word for it" that Amendment 2 is good for Missouri.

Answer 2

Sick and Tired!!!

I am a physician and I'm offended by the advertisements. The issue comes down to grant and research dollars being channeled through Missouri schools (Wash. U. in particular, Mr & Dr. Danforth) and Missouri corporations. Harvesting stem cells from the placenta and cord is a very viable source but the procedure does not have the same corporate funding. When it doesn't make sense...follow the money!
Dr. Stan

Answer 3

There are so many things WRONG with Missouri Proposition 2 that I find it hard to believe that anyone could support it if they truly understood the full meaning of the convoluted and misleading 2100-word text of this proposition.

Before they go to the polls, potential voters need to read ALL the FACTS presented in "Do No Harm" by the Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics. This is on the Internet.

Unfortunately, it looks like "Prop 2" may be voted along party lines, which is totally WRONG. This isn't about Democrats and Republicans. It's about a massive MONEY GRAB by "for-profit" medical companies, one of which has contributed nearly all of the funding to pass a virtually irreversible and uncontrollable amendment to the Missouri Constitution.

Answer 4

Actually, it looks like they covered all the ethical issues. I would definitely vote for it if I lived there and I'm telling my sister it is safe to vote for it, since she lives in Missouri.

These are the important stipulations (and it only allows research that is allowed federally):

1) No person may clone or attempt to clone a human being.

(2) No human blastocyst may be produced by fertilization solely for the purpose of stem cell research.

(3) No stem cells may be taken from a human blastocyst more than fourteen days after cell division begins; provided, however, that time during which a blastocyst is frozen does not count against the fourteen-day limit.

(4) No person may, for valuable consideration, purchase or sell human blastocysts or eggs for stem cell research or stem cell therapies and cures.

(5) Human blastocysts and eggs obtained for stem cell research or stem cell therapies and cures must have been donated with voluntary and informed consent, documented in writing.

These five stipulations are definitely needed, but since they are there it should pass.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Yes it does make me mad. I am praying it will be defeated. If it passes it could mean that they can take all of the states money to continue the barbaric practice that was voted in and then we could never do anything about it.

Answer 7

So I guess section 5 and 6, as well as 6a, don't make any impact on you?

If the donors are volunteers, how does it affect you? If there is public oversight, and it is being voted into the state constitution, how can you claim it is just scientist saying they know best?