A stem cell divide

Re “Facing certain veto by Bush, Senate renews debate on stem cell research,” April 11

Listening to the Senate debate embryonic stem cell research, you would think that there has been no success in adult stem cell research. Actually, there have been more than 70 different successes in treating humans with adult stem cells, and none with embryonic stem cells.

When pollsters ask people if they approve of stem cell research, of course the majority will agree because the pollsters don’t specify which type. When the supporters of embryonic stem cell research use heart-tuggers to illustrate what could be done, they do not talk about the successes of adult stem cells. If the private sector thought embryonic stem cell research was successful or profitable, government funding would not be needed.

PAUL SAUTTER

Fallbrook Calif.

*

President Bush and other religious fundamentalists condemn the use of embryonic stem cells for research or the creation of medical procedures on the basis that their use ends a human life. Yet they defend the use of warfare, which also ends human life, as a tool of national policy.

An embryo has not developed sensory nerves and therefore can’t feel what is happening to it. A conscious human can feel itself being burned alive, its limbs being torn off or shrapnel tearing its flesh.

Are there any logical arguments offered by Mr. Bush or any of his followers to defend this conflicting set of positions?

BRUCE BOYD

Valley Glen