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PR: Confirm ban on human embryos
06.08.2010
Pro-Life group, Youth Defence, today called for Minister of Health, Mary Harney to ban the use of human embryos in stem cell research. The call follows the release of a story involving an 11 year old boy from Northern Ireland, who was successfully treated using his own stem cells. Minister Harney is expected to bring forward legislation on the protection, or otherwise, for the human embryo later this year. Youth Defence spokesman, Dr. Eoghan de Faoite, pointed out that recent successes in adult stem cell research treatments have underlined the absolute lack of medical necessity in continuing with embryonic stem cell research.
Ciaran Lynch, from Northern Ireland, was released from the hospital today following a ground-breaking surgery to rebuild his windpipe using his own stem cells. The 11-year-old underwent the operation which involved the removal of his trachea and its replacement with a donor windpipe at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Doctors used stem cells from the boy’s bone marrow to build up his windpipe and guarantee that the organ would not be rejected. “This story is just the latest in a long line of successes attributed to adult stem cell treatment," says Dr. de Faoite, “The scientific and medical community almost completely abanding embryo research, since it destroys human life and has produced no cures. It’s time for Mary Harney, Minister for Health, to acknowledge this and confirm that she will bring forward a ban on lethal research using human embryos.”
According to a recent Associated Press article, adult stem cells are being used in the treatment of people who suffer from a series of health problems including multiple sclerosis, heart attacks and diabetes. Transplants of adult stem cells have become a standard lifesaving therapy for hundreds of thousands of people with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood diseases. Adult stem cells can be taken from body tissue and umbilical cord blood, and in no way destruct human life, especially not embryos. Adult stem cells also seem to have abilities to stimulate tissue repair or suppress the immune system. According to leading experts, tens of thousands of people are saved each year by such procedures.
Dr. de Faoite said, “It is time for Mary Harney to move quickly to ensure that Ireland becomes a centre for excellence with regards to stem cell research, by protecting human life and banning embryonic stem cell research.”
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