Embryonic stem cells in the process of differentiation - the process

by which embryonic stem cells becomes any one of dozens of types

of cells in the body.

NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands

The Stem Cell Taboo

"Unlike some other countries, including the United States, in The Netherlands - creating embryos in the test tube for purely scientific research is prohibited. … One continues to hope that the Dutch ban on developing [human] embryos for scientific research will be taken off the table so that patients don't suffer unnecessarily from disease as a result of some else’s religious beliefs."

EDITORIAL

Translated By Meta Mertens

March 10th, 2009

The Netherlands - NRC Handelsblad - Original Article (Dutch)

The decision by American President Obama to resume federal funding for stem cell research recalls to us the situation in The Netherlands, where for political and religious reasons, scientists in this area are saddled with a handicap. Unlike some other countries, including the United States, in The Netherlands - creating embryos in the test tube for purely scientific research is prohibited. The current government confirmed the ban in 2007, perpetuating a situation that was put in place when “Purple” still reigned were in power (a coalition of parties including the Dutch Labour Party [PvdA], People's Party for Freedom and Democracy [VVD] and Democrats 66 [D66]).

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The Embryo Law that came into force in 2002 contained a ban, but an amendment was added saying that based on new scientific insights and opinion, the ban could be rapidly repealed (by royal decree).

Unfortunately, this is an option that successive Balkenende Cabinets haven't used. That isn't surprising, because the non religious majority in Parliament was kept under thumb by the Christian Democratic Appeal [CDA] and Christen Union, who like the Reformed Political Party [SGP], believe that manipulating embryos, “is only acceptable if it directly contributes to the welfare of new human life,” as MP Wiegman-Van Meppelen Schepping (Christen Union) said during a debate in 2007.

READ ALSO:

Der Tagesspiegel, Germany: America Steps Forward

on Stem Cell Funding ... So What About Germany?

La Stampa, Italy: Obama and Stem Cells - A Challenge to Europe

Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: Stem Cells - Welcome Back to the 21st Century, America

El Pais, Spain: Stem Cells and Health Care: America's 'Greatest Revolution'

That embryonic stem cells may help cure or control diseases like Alzheimer's, multiple scleroses, diabetes, Down syndrome, Parkinson's and injuries to the spinal chord - and thus the quality of existing life - seems to count for little to advocates of the ban.

That is why The Netherlands depends on surplus embryos left over after in vitro fertilization treatments. It is also a shame that the potential majority who oppose the embryo ban cannot convert this into a parliamentary decision. 

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Yet there is hope for patients. At the end of 2008, the scientific journal Science called it the “breakthrough of year”: the genetic modification of human skin cells to develop "embryonic" qualities. Japanese stem cell researchers have developed the technique.

[China News, People's Republic of China]

Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport, Jet Bussemaker (PvdA), has indicated before that “adult stem cells” are "not considered embryos that fall under the Embryo Law." At the end of last year, she decided to enforce another part of the government amendment to the ban: to simulate ambitious research onto the promising use of human stem cells. She made €22.4 million [$28.9 million] available to the Translational Adult Stem Cell Research Program.

It remains to be seen where this research will lead. Meanwhile, one continues to hope that the ban on developing [human] embryos for scientific research will be taken off the table so that patients don't suffer unnecessarily from disease as a result of some else’s religious beliefs.

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US March 13, 1:36pm]