New Rules On Stem Cells Threaten Current Research

Washington Post :

When President Obama lifted restrictions on federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research in March, many scientists hailed the move as a long-awaited boost for one of the most promising fields of medical research.

Since then, however, many proponents have concluded that the plan could have the opposite effect, putting off-limits for federal support much of the research underway, including work that the Bush administration endorsed. "We're very concerned," said Amy Comstock Rick, chief executive of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, which has been leading the effort to free up more federal funding for stem cell research. "If they don't change this, very little current research would be eligible. It's a huge issue."

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[RhodaA]

PUBLIC COMMENTS to NIH Due Today. Here is the website:
http://nihoerextra.nih.gov/stem_cells/add.htm

My comment to NIH:

New ethical guidelines should not apply retroactively to stem cell lines currently used for research because:

THE LAW SHOULD NOT DEFINE WHAT IS ETHICAL OR JUST; ETHICS AND JUSTICE SHOULD DEFINE WHAT BECOMES LAW.

It is not Ethical or Just to destroy or set back scientific research currently underway that may ultimately and profoudly benefit humanity when retroactive application of such a law would serve no Practical Or Functional benefit in defining the past or going forward into the future. Instead, it would result in great Harm to humankind by imposing major setbacks. Decisions causing Harm to the avancement of medical research (where such decisions have no positive impact on actions of the past) is not Ethical or Just, and thus, should not become law.

[StuManChu]

If their research was worth anything, they would not need federal money to fund it.

[ams23]

maybe we should just give obama a primary he will never forget. he has to face us in 2012 so we will see what happens.

[ams23]

yay for science

[schatsie]

So let me get this straight, we can impose new Regulations retroactively for stem cells, but not for banks..........

[NearTheCenter]

Why are you so disappointed in Pres. Obama, he did not lie. You dreamed of what you wanted Pres. Obama to be and now I see comments like:

1. I campaigned, canvass, use vacation time, donated every day and voted for Obama
( I'm disappointed with every thing he's done)
2. I will not vote for Obama in 2012
3. He's pissing me off
4. He made us believe he was a Liberal candidate
5. I'm mad (like your 5 years old in the sandbox)
6. Everything is I want and gimmie( single payer health care, toture investigations, DODT reversed, Everything Pres. Obama says or does he dead wrong)
7. I'm voting Green party
8. I'm staying home next general election
9. I will never donate or campaign again for Obama
10. The big one: He lied to us to get votes

I'm tired of Obama voters wanting handouts, get a life!!!!
(In case your wondering, I voted for Obama and thinks he doing a great job)

[whitemerlot]

Really? Geez, every new disappointment I hear about from this government feels like a slap in the face. At least with Bush and the republicans, I expected nothing good and got even less. But with Obama and crew, I thought that real change for the better was possible. I'm beginning to realize that it's just the same old routine. It's sad.

[monkeysuit]

Yep you were fooled by the oldest political trick in the book. This result was obviously not his intent on this, but he should have researched it more and found the error that he was about to perform.




Monkeysuit
http://randompoliticalthoughtsandnews.blogspot.com/

[MaximMaximus]

It's as if you people are collectively suffering from ADD. Are you kidding me? You're commenting on a rather misleading article as if it is the end of the world. This are in progress and you all have to be a bit patient. In the meantime, go see your health care provider for your ADD!

[LiberalBuzz]

Well big effen surprise.

Another BUSH rule Obama refuses to get rid of. And if the article is correct, Bush had more lax rules?

WTH is wrong with the Obama administration?

Did he already forget WHY we elected him? And that was NOT to continue the Bush policies and so far I haven't seen ANY serious drift from them.

Obama needs to FIRE every single inside the beltway advise he has because they seem more beholden to politics as usual rather than any actual change.

[schatsie]

The Republican over the last 30 years have packed the Civil Service and the Political Appointees with graduates of Regency Law school and their ilk....It does not surprise me that they are making things impossible for Obama....Think about it, no regulation for banks, but by gum we are going to regulate stem cells.......

[Cacaoatl]

Can you read? More importantly do you understand the word "proposed" in the article? These are new proposed regulations not regulations that currently exist. So stop getting your panties in knots.

[Pip1860]

I hope this mess is sorted out but I am just glad in general that the Obama lifted the ban. Sick people will benefit from this in the very near future.

[Pendragon2008]

Look up Dickey-Wicker amendment, and tell me if Obama lifted the ban.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickey_Amendment

Obama signed this into law 2 days after lifting the previous ban.

Do you really think that Big Pharma is going to allow their bought-and-paid-for government to make it easier for their competition? The FDA recently classified adult stem cells as DRUGS, in order to limit development of the most promising (and least morally grey) areas of this research...cells from our OWN BODIES that could help save our lives and end disease.

Wake up and smell the corporate fascism in BOTH sides of this government - or shut up and keep taking your pills like good little consumers.

[jesseandrews]

Surprise another move that Obama messed up.

[rhondadavis28]

President Obama doesn't have a problem.
There's still time for guidelines that allow the current research underway to go forward.
He is working his damn a@@ off - we do have many messes thanks to 8 years of CHENEY AND BUSH

[wanttruth]

Good post. I agree.

[NearTheCenter]

All of you liberal/pr­ogressives need to grow up and stop all this nonsense. What are going to do vote republican. We finally get a intelligent, thoughtful, charismatic, leader into to White House and you still moan and groan about Pres.Obama. Trust me, all the promises he made in the campaign is totally different when you govern. I know it was very hard for Pres. Obama to backtrack on some of these critical promises. Change comes slowly and it will take time to get Washington to work for the american people again. Obama is becoming a realist and come to realize that situations change. For instance:

1. we are getting out of Iraq(just not as soon as you would like to
2. Stem cell research- Obama never folded on that promise(He will have guidelines later)
3. Credit card reform- Obama delivered
4. Toture- Obama never said he would procesute the Bush administration during campaign
5. Health care reform- Obama never was an advocate for single payer(just more affordable health care)
6.Gays in the military- Obama will reverse this (just not as soon as you was like him to)
7. Detainee photos- Obama made the right decision to backtrack on this(Majority of Americans agree with him on this issue)
8. Energy & Education reform will also be passed
9. Immigration reform as well

Thank the heavens I'm a independent and choose to stay one. I campaigned and voted for Pres. Obama will vote for him in a heartbeat in 2012.

[amalfedup]

I guess it is juvenile to expect people to keep their promises and not to deliver empty rhetoric.

[Antifascist-08]

Maybe you should do some research on how many campaign promises were kept by other presidents and how long it took them to do the ones that they were successful with.

Maybe you should do a little thinking about how well you would do, given the
circumstances.

[NearTheCenter]

Obama never delivered empty rhetoric. You expected him to be the Superman and now you and other so-called DieHard Obama supporters are so disappointed. Please stop it. Its very immature and childish the comments you and others type. Huff post does post alot of misleading articles do get the far left all upset for no reason to turn his own supporters on him. Exactly what the right wants you to do and you and others are falling into the trap. Pres. Obama is not the president of the far left liberal base but president of the entire U.S. He was not put in office to please you but make decisions to based on the harsh realities of what comes his way. Moderates and independents are the reason Obama won the election, not the liberal/progressive base.

[wanttruth]

Good post. I agree.

[wanttruth]

Everytime HP post one of these misleading articles, I see posts doubting President Obama. It 's so predictable. When I voted for him, I voted for him to deliver meaningful changes over a full term (hopefully two terms)not just 4 months! GIVE HIM TIME!!!

[KrugnacTheMagnificent]

Sounds like a Conservative back in 2001 watching the neocons take over.

[Pendragon2008]

Well said, Krugnac.

It is every American's DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY to hold government accountable for its actions.

It's not like Obama has just been dropped into this position at random, or had no time to prepare his team to take decisive actions to move things forward...instead, they reinforce and advance Bush policies. Wake up and admit you've been HAD.

[KrugnacTheMagnificent]

Isn't it the ultimate irony that Bush's NON-ban actually encouraged and funded hESC research for the first time ever, and did so for years and years, and then Obama's reversal of that NON-ban actually undermined the research?

After all the flowery rhetoric over how Bush impeded progress, Obama steps up and single-handedly wipes out a decade of research.