News about human stem cells

[ZiSunka]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14483409/site/newsweek/

Would this satisfy your objections to embryonic stem cell research?

[MrJim]

"...a process that would leave the embryos themselves intact and able to survive in most cases, the research team says."

Don't think so...

[Jehane]

"...a process that would leave the embryos themselves intact and able to survive in most cases, the research team says."

Don't think so...
Ditto

[ZiSunka]

"...a process that would leave the embryos themselves intact and able to survive in most cases, the research team says."

That sounds to me like they would survive, but not necessarily thrive.

[Danfrey]

I could do without all the medical research. They spend millions to create medicines that cost hundreds that send our insurance costs through the roof to extend life and postpone the thing we spend our lives waiting for. How about if we just learn to embrace life, trust God and be ready when our time comes to go on to Paradise. Ok, this is probably a simplistic approach, but I am a simple man. I watched the medical establishment cost our insurance company hundreds of thousands of dollars and they accomplished nothing. From the time Candice was diagnosed to her death was only about a year. Personally, if I ever get diagnosed with a serious disease, it will take my life unless God decides to heal me.

[ZiSunka]

You are right that modern man seems to be bent on clinging to life, as if death were the last, greatest enemy. And for most people, it probably is. That's where those bumper stickers that say, "The one who dies with the most, wins." It's their way of achieving immortality--I'm dead but my clutter lives on.

But as for taking your life if you are ever diagnosed with a serious disease, isn't that playing God? Is that the best way to trust God? Is it possible that your suffering will have a greater good behind it?

[Danfrey]

You are right that modern man seems to be bent on clinging to life, as if death were the last, greatest enemy. And for most people, it probably is. That's where those bumper stickers that say, "The one who dies with the most, wins." It's their way of achieving immortality--I'm dead but my clutter lives on.

But as for taking your life if you are ever diagnosed with a serious disease, isn't that playing God? Is that the best way to trust God? Is it possible that your suffering will have a greater good behind it?
I did not say that I would take my life. I said the disease will take my life, meaning I will not try to fight it with medical science.

[ZiSunka]

You have a living will then?

[Danfrey]

You have a living will then?
No, I don't. I should have but I was always comfortable with the fact that my wife would respect my wishes. Now that she is gone, I should take care of that type of thing. I don't shun medicine or medical science, but I believe it should be used to improve quality of life not to extend life within reason of course. I wouldn't ignore something that is simple to fix like melanoma.

[Andyman_1970]

"...a process that would leave the embryos themselves intact and able to survive in most cases, the research team says."

That sounds to me like they would survive, but not necessarily thrive.

What happens to the embyro's after the process? If they do nothing with them they will eventually "die".

That to me is the biggest hypocrisy of this issue. It seems some are against doing research on embryo's that are not going to be used (by fertility clinics) even though those embryo's will either be destroyed or left in storage indefinetly (which still results in the embryo being destroyed). The medical fact is any embryo that is not implanted, that would be in cryogenic storage, will eventually "die".

As long as the embryo's are not being created specifically for this kind of research I have no problem with embryo's that were going to be discarded, or not be used by their donors (and thus kept in indefinite storage) being used for this research.

You are right that modern man seems to be bent on clinging to life, as if death were the last, greatest enemy.

Why as Christians are we so ready to die? Jesus' teachings are about here and now, how we live today........not getting our ticket punched so we don't get "left behind", or just wait around looking forward to death........that seems a bit dualistic. (not to change the subject or create a rabbit trail..........that was mostly just rhetorical comments)

I can see no Biblical contradiction with trying to cure a disease like Alsheimers (sp?) or Parkinson's through this kind of research.

[Danfrey]

The biggest problem I have with the medical establishment is they are more concerned with quantity of life than they are quality of life. Oh death where is they sting? Why would I run a race and turn around at the finish line and start heading back to the starting line. I am not saying that someone should be out looking for death, but why should we spend so much effort trying to avoid it. There is a balance between seeking medical care and trusting in God to heal. For each of us this balance is different. I can repect someone's decision were ever that balance falls.

This whole stem cell thing reminds me of science fiction. When do we start growing clones so we can harvest organs from them?