More on the Stem Cell Act and Bush's promised veto: Take action now
As I wrote earlier, President Bush has vowed to veto the bipartisan Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, SB5, when he returns from his European trip. This bill offers hope of a cure or, at the very least, more effective treatments for many chronic illnesses, including Types 1 and 2 diabetes, Parkinsons, Alzheimers and many others.
In an eloquent Op-Ed in the San Francisco Chronicle, Dwight Holing, a member of the national Board of the American Diabetes Association, explains why this bill is so important. (I have had the pleasure of serving as President of the SF Bay Area's ADA Leadership council with Dwight serving, until recently, as Chairman. When Dwight speaks on the subject of diabetes, we all should listen.)
Here are some excerpts from his opinion piece [with my comments inserted in brackets]:
Dwight Holing, ADA board member"Like his failure to take global warming seriously, President Bush's decision to [once again] ignore science and veto the recently passed bipartisan bill that would permit federal funding of embryonic stem cell research within an ethical framework spotlights an inconvenient truth. All Americans, not just those who have diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, will pay the price."
[This bill will provide hope to millions of Americans with diabetes]
"Take diabetes, for example. Leading scientists say embryonic stem cell research holds great promise for finding better treatments and a cure for the nearly 21 million Americans, including 2 million Californians, who have the disease. And that's not to mention the 54 million who have pre-diabetes, meaning their blood glucose levels are higher than normal and they're at increased risk of developing the disease.... "
[And it is not just about hope, it is also about economics]
"...Why's that important? Because, left uncured and untreated, diabetes comes with enormous human and economic costs that affect us all...Every year, diabetes contributes to more than 224,000 deaths....Diabetes is also the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure and non-traumatic lower limb amputation. Whether as employers, taxpayers or people with the disease and their family members, we're all picking up the tab. Diabetes costs the country more than $132 billion a year in medical expenditures and lost productivity. One out of every 10 health care dollars is spent on diabetes; and 1 out of every 4 Medicare dollars."
[Stem cell research will provide valuable information that could change the future for the billions of people on earth who have incurable chronic illnesses. Think of it!]
"Stem cell research allows scientists to better explore how to control and direct stem cells so they can grow into other cells, such as insulin-producing beta cells. Creating new beta cells could mean a cure for Type 1 diabetes as they would serve as a source of cells for islet cell transplantation. They could also provide a powerful tool for controlling Type 2 diabetes. Already, many of the genes involved in pancreatic development have been identified, and recent discoveries have allowed scientists to overcome the difficult task of getting stem cells to produce the necessary proteins -- in the correct sequence -- that will allow them to become insulin-producing islet cells. Just as we all bear the cost of uncured diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, it will take us all to convince our elected representatives to override Bush's veto of the stem cell bill."
[So what can you do? Plenty. Read on.]
"The vote is sure to be close, and the best hope is to win in the Senate where four senators are needed to join the 63 who originally voted for the bill in April. Many are saying an override is impossible and we should wait until a new president takes office and then reintroduce the bill. But every 21 seconds another American is diagnosed with diabetes. By Inauguration Day in 2009, there will be 2,382,171 more diabetics awaiting a cure or better treatment for this cruel, costly and deadly disease. I say we must override now. We can't afford to wait."
[Take action now!]
If you agree that we need to expand Stem Cell research, then please click on the following link and tell your Senators to override Bush’s Veto of SB 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act:
Posted by Pat Salber, MD
The Doctor Weighs In
in Advocacy, Alzheimers disease, American Diabetes Association, Diabetes, Dwight Holing, Health care costs, Parkinsons disease, Pat Salber, Social commentary, Stem cell research, TDWI, The Doctor Weighs In, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes
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