Ban on Stem Cell Research Holds
Local News
by
KDLT
last edited on
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Wednesday afternoon, the state senate voted 21 to 12 against senate bill 74.
Originally, it would have lifted a statewide ban on embryonic stem cell research.
A committee amended it earlier this week, rewriting it so any FDA approved treatments derived from such research could be used in the state.
Those in favor of embryonic stem cell research want to help people with incurable diseases like diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
Carol Rosenthal, who is for embryonic research, said, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if those diseases could be cured, at least come up with treatments?"
For those opposed, the ethics of destroying human embryos to find those cures is a major concern.
Kaia Kloster, who is against embryonic research, said, "I think if there were no ethical considerations, then why wouldn't we just open up our state for embryonic stem cell research?"
Carol Rosenthal's father had both Alzheimers and Parkinson's disease.
She herself is living with diabetes and believes embryonic stem cell research can help her.
"I think anybody is South Dakota will tell you they all know somebody with something that would benefit from that type of research," said Rosenthal.
Kaia Kloster has been a medical researcher for more than 20 years.
While she has ethical concerns about embryonic stem cell research, she says adult stem cell research is yielding better results.
"You can collect it from the individual that's going to receive the treatments, and you can eliminate some of the rejection responses. That's a big part of why it's successful."
Had Senate Bill 74 passed, it would have kept the ban on embryonic stem cell research in place, but would have allowed drugs and treatments derived from it in other places to be used in South Dakota.
Kloster doesn't like that idea. She said, “Why are we going to allow the rest of the world to do the dirty work for us and accept the benefits from something we believe is ethically wrong?"
Rosenthal disagrees, and said, “Even in the amended form, it's something we need to do.”
Senate Bill 74 may be dead, but both sides say the debate will live on.
Senator Ben Nesselhuf, of Vermillion, is the prime sponsor of senate bill 74.
He says he still wants to see the ban on embryonic stem cell research lifted in South Dakota, but there just wasn't enough "political will" in the legislature to do so this year.