Stem Cell Ruling Threatens Children's Cancer Research (VIDEO)

When a federal judge passed a ruling Monday that temporarily blocked government rules expanding stem cell research, many argued that potentially life-saving research was in jeopardy.

Wyatt Andrews at CBS News reports on two projects researching childhood leukemia and down syndrome which are in danger of being indefinitely stalled because of the ruling.

WATCH:

Comments

[spytheweb]

04:04 PM on 08/26/2010

If America cared about children they wouldn't be flying drones into Pakistan. Now if a big corporation were going to a profit from the research they would let it go through. Any program that benefits the general public will always be held back.

[jt1980]

08:56 PM on 08/25/2010

There is also a cynical view that some opposition to embryonic stem cell research came from researchers on promising adult stem cell projects. That sounds very cut-throat, but very much possible. There are millions if not billions of dollars at stake.

[Dandelion1]

06:11 PM on 08/25/2010

This ruling is good news. Embryos are human. Very, very young human beings. Children, even. It is wrong to kill children. I notice that the pro-child murder folks are protesting, however, that child murder is okay if it saves...children.

[jt1980]

08:53 PM on 08/25/2010

Because the embryos will be discarded if they are not used, it isn't like they will all become children.

[ArchbishopBenevolent]

05:33 PM on 08/25/2010

I pointed out in another article that I think that the National Institutes of Health bureaucracy was asleep at the wheel. They should have known that there was a law in the books and should have worked to get a new law in the books. The judge was simply interpreting the law.

More importantly, such scare tactics by scientists are politically counter-productive in the long run because the embryonic stem cell opponents have emotionally charged arguments of their own and will no doubt also dig their heels in.

Scaring people with the impact on Downs Syndrome and leukemia cures is scientifically irresponsible because creates false hope for patients who are unaware of how long it takes to develop a cure and make it available.

I am sure there is not a clinical trial ongoing at this point for Down's syndrome. Just ask the scientists to demonstrate proof of principle the supposed embryonic stem cell cure in animal models. Almost all drugs are tested in animals for safety and efficacy.

[gditty]

05:03 PM on 08/25/2010

I wonder what Sarah Palin feels about research being canceled that helps down syndrome children? Could her child's cure be halted?

Nancy Reagan didn't support stem cell until after Ronald Reagan was ill & affected by the research.

How ironic.....

[Addy Sul]

04:49 PM on 08/25/2010

It seems like the right wing freaks think that by outlawing embryonic stem cell research less women will get abortions. Another example of the Hippocratic bible oath these people take. They are completely against it until it affects THEIR child, spouse or parent. I don't remember reading anything in the bible about stem cell research. But as usual they will make it up to suit their cause and their sheep will follow.

[Skunkman]

04:46 PM on 08/25/2010

Would the objectors be so vocal if they believed that the embryos would otherwise mature into homosexual Muslims of color? Just asking?

[drumz]

04:42 PM on 08/25/2010

How can these so called Christians claim that Muslims are violent when their suppression of scientific knowledge and its procedures is simply a form of covert violence?

[stopthemadness69]

04:28 PM on 08/25/2010

These nutballs are just a decade or less away from making jacking off illegal because it kills future people.

[ywcachieve]

04:17 PM on 08/25/2010

What a disgrace this is.

[free radical]

04:16 PM on 08/25/2010

Hey HP I dare you to censor me

[free radical]

04:10 PM on 08/25/2010

Once again the christian wack-jobs will get their way and stop all progress! If we let them win we
deserve what we get or (don't get)

[UpstateNY]

04:06 PM on 08/25/2010

They're putting the lives of real children in danger to 'save' embryos that will probably never be born. And they call themselves 'pro-life'?

[kenhamlett]

03:59 PM on 08/25/2010

As a person living with cancer (I love the way we change the terminology from year to year), I obviously believe in stem cell research. I also believe in the freedom of choice. So, these endless debates and delays infuriate me. As a gay man, my President and my party have done little with respect to my equal rights. I hope with all that is in me that they fight for my life on this count! I will be watching ....

[RachelMc]

03:52 PM on 08/25/2010

which federal judge?