Opinion
"Politics" represents the public's interest in stem cell debate
LETTER — Posted Nov. 24, 2008
Regarding "Elections seen as turning points for stem cell studies" (Article, Oct. 20): When it comes to stem cell research, James A. Thomson, PhD, "wants politics to get out of it, finally." I struggle to understand what the scientific community means by this oft-repeated sentiment.
Do we mean that the people of the United States have no compelling interest in the conduct of scientific research? If that is the case, why should they fund us at all?
Perhaps we mean that we, as scientists, should be free from governmental oversight of professional ethics. If that is the case, would we agree that every other profession should also be free from oversight? I doubt that.
Maybe we simply look forward to a time when those who have certain moral compunctions about treating human life as a commodity no longer have a voice in the public square. If that is the case, I tremble. May we always remember that politics is people. And if we no longer value people -- their lives, beliefs, and values -- we ought to find another line of work.
Amy Fogelstrom Chai, MD, Ellicott City, Md.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/11/24/edlt1124.htm.