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PR: Rabon to Promote Adult Stem Cell Therapy
27.09.2006
Youth Defence are currently involved in a nationwide campaign to protect human life from conception and to prevent research on human embryos from taking place in this country. This campaign is being conducted in advance of the government's plans to address this issue over the coming weeks.
Eoghan de Faoite of Youth Defence said today, “The Committee on Health and Children are currently reviewing the report of the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction and will report back with their recommendations sometime in October. The aim of YD's campaign is to gather as much opposition to embryo destruction as possible and we are pleased to say that it is going extremely well”.
As part of this campaign YD have organised two public information meetings in Dublin and Cork which will address the issue of Adult Stem Cell Therapy.
Eoghan de Faoite continued, “Adult stem cell therapy has a huge part to play in the debate on embryo research and is often lost in the media hype and controversies surrounding Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy. We hope these meetings will encourage people to focus more on adult stem cells as an ethical alternative to embryo research”.
Adult Stem Cell Therapy is currently making major advances in treating and curing conditions that were once thought to be incurable. Their ability to treat diseases and disabilities is ever increasing and it is becoming a very exciting area of medicine.
Eoghan de Faoite said “Unlike stem cells taken from human embryos, adult stem cells, which also include those from the umbilical cord blood and the placenta, are completely ethical and are non-controversial to use. They are also proving to be far more successful than embryonic cells. In fact, adult stem cells have been used successfully in over 65 different conditions including, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's and Spinal Cord Injuries”
The YD meetings will feature a special guest who from the United States named Jacki Rabon. Jacki was 17 years old when she was involved in a serious car accident. She fractured her spine at T12 which made her a paraplegic. After her accident she flew to Portugal where she underwent experimental adult stem cell therapy by Dr Carlos Lima. A few months later, after some rehabilitation, Jacki was at home walking with leg braces.
Jacki has testified in the US before members of the House of Representatives and her story has received much media attention. She is a living example of the amazing ability of adult stem cells and also has an incredible story to tell. Jacki opposes the use of stem cells derived from human embryos due to the fact that this destroys a human life and to date has been non successful.
Jacki will be in Ireland from the 28th of September until the 4th of October 2006 and is available for a limited number of interviews. Jacki's story is very relevant to the current debate in this country at the moment regarding human embryos and stem cell therapy and also makes a good human interest piece.
Eoghan de Faoite concluded, “We are looking forward to Jacki's visit and we hope that people will learn more about adult stem cells because of it. Jacki is coming at a crucial time for Ireland where we are now addressing the issue of stem cell therapy”
Jacki will speak in Wynn's Hotel Dublin on Saturday 30th of September at 4pm and again in the Imperial Hotel Cork on Monday 2nd of October at 8pm.
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