Our View: End to stem-cell funding ban could ease suffering

On Monday, the Obama administration will overturn restrictions on federal funding for stem-cell research, according to the Washington Post. That’s good news, because it will end the split-the-baby approach that made little sense morally or scientifically.

The current restriction allows the government to participate in the development of the 78 stem-cell lines that were thought to be in existence when President George W. Bush issued his executive order in 2001. In doing so, Bush became the first president to involve the government in embryonic stem-cell research, so he deserves credit for that. But in his bid to prevent the further destruction of embryos for research, he set a limit. As it turned out, there were only about 21 viable stem-cell lines and some of those were contaminated. This, essentially, put the government on the sidelines as private clinics and other nations pursued promising breakthroughs in biotechnology.

In 2006, a bipartisan bill to expand embryonic stem-cell research sailed through Congress, gaining the support of key pro-life Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bill Frist. Polls showed the legislation also had the support of most Americans. But Bush took this occasion to issue the first veto of his presidency, citing the potential for life in destroyed embryos.

Oddly, he didn’t object to the existence of fertility clinics, where embryos perish with regularity. Under the bill, surplus embryos from these clinics would be used in government research. The veto meant they were discarded instead. An Obama executive order would enlist them in a broader search for cures that would improve the quality of life for many people.

Embryonic stem cells differ from adult stem cells, because scientists believe they can be developed to emulate any tissue in the body, which would make them more suitable to repair damage from Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, spinal cord injuries, cancer, juvenile diabetes, Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other maladies.

Ethical concerns remain, but the Post reports that the National Institutes of Health is already preparing to draft guidelines, with guidance from the National Academy of Sciences and the International Society for Stem Cell Research.

There are no guarantees that such research will yield positive results, but the possibilities are exciting. Because of the long-term nature of the research, it is imperative that Congress pass a bill to avoid the possibility of on-again-off-again funding based on dueling executive orders.

For victims of terrible diseases, and their families, Monday’s announcement will herald a new era of hope.