Stem Cell Research

Science is driven by hope. It is the hope that we can find a new planet, better understand an organism, and potentially cure what ails us that keeps inquiring minds inquiring. Hope is also the appeal of stem cell research. This promising research could hold the key to treating and curing diseases, from Parkinson’s and lymphoma to diabetes and spinal injury.

As we approach this new field of research, it is critically important we do so in a way that is ethical and respectful of human life. After all, the hope of stem cell research is that it can save human life. But that potential is diminished if we must sacrifice human life to do so.

Earlier this year, the House passed H.R. 3 (known as H.R. 810 in the 109th Congress). This legislation would use federal tax dollars to fund embryonic stem cell research that destroys human embryos. President Bush vetoed similar legislation last year, and this technique continues to be morally unacceptable to many Americans – including me. After all, patients need liver transplants every day, but we do not take livers from prisoners on death row simply because their lives will soon end. Neither should we steal the life of a fertilization clinic embryo just because there’s a chance it won’t be used to impregnate a woman.

Reasonable people can disagree on this issue, but the truth is they don’t have to. Alternatives exist that can sidestep these ethical concerns. We don’t have to sacrifice life for science and we don't have to drag the American public through an unnecessary and divisive moral debate.

Last month, scientists announced they have isolated stem cells in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women that can grow into a variety of tissue and be used to treat diseases. This is an ethical technique that respects human life. Unfortunately, this promising research wouldn’t be covered under H.R. 3; that legislation only funds destructive research techniques to the exclusion of ethical alternatives.

To right this situation, my colleague Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) and I have introduced H.R. 322, an ethical alternative to H.R. 3. H.R. 322 (known as H.R. 5526 in the 109th Congress) authorizes federal funding for research to derive pluripotent stem cells (long-lived, adaptable cells) without creating or destroying human embryos. Extracting stem cells without harming human life is a very reasonable task, as nature does it all the time when an embryo harmlessly splits to create twins.

Every day, scientists are making advances in these ethical techniques. And it is these techniques that will lead us to the future of stem cell research – a future where science and life work hand-in-hand. Last Congress, all 100 senators voted to pass similar legislation, and 273 House members supported the alternative. President Bush has even signaled his willingness to sign this ethical stem cell bill into law. Unfortunately, the Democrat leadership refused to debate alternatives to H.R. 3. It seems as through Nancy Pelosi prefers to spend taxpayer dollars on research that destroys human life, rather than on finding cures in an ethically responsible manner.

This is unacceptable. As an OB-GYN, I witnessed the miracle of life from its most fragile, embryonic stage. And as a physician, I took the Hippocratic Oath to "first, do no harm." This same creed must drive federal funding for our medical and scientific research communities. H.R. 322 is an opportunity to reap the benefits of stem cell research without the overarching moral concerns. By approaching this issue in an ethical and life-affirming way, we can discover cures and treatments that save lives without sacrificing them.

The author currently serves in the United States House of Representatives, representing the 11th District of Georgia. Dr. Gingrey has delivered more than 5,200 babies during his 26 years of practicing medicine.