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We should use
only adult stem
cells for research

Rep. Kirk Caldwell's May 10 opinion piece on stem cell research missed the mark and misrepresented the pro-life position. Caldwell failed to spell out the very basic distinctions in stem cell research that provide the framework for discussion and the lens through which to understand the controversy -- the distinction between adult stem cell research and embryonic stem cell research.

Let's start by emphasizing the crucial areas of common ground I reiterated at the five legislative hearings held on the various bills and resolutions on this topic. The headline to Caldwell's piece is "Hawaii stands to benefit from stem cell research." I couldn't agree more with regard to the only scientific area to date that has demonstrated promising results: adult stem research.

In adult stem cell research, cells from body parts such as umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, skin and body fat cells are used for regeneration purposes. No human life is destroyed in this process. There have been exciting and dramatic developments in adult stem cell research that hold out great promise for medical advancements. So not only has adult stem cell research been more promising, it possesses none of the highly controversial aspects of embryonic stem cell research. No human life is destroyed in the name of research and progress.

Unfortunately, that is not the case with embryonic stem cell research, a procedure where human life at its earliest stage is destroyed for research purposes. Many scientists want government funding to actually first create human life for the very purpose of destroying it in research experiments. And while we certainly understand the noble intent and desires of those who support embryonic stem cell research, we simply believe Hawaii taxpayers shouldn't be asked to fund experiments that include the intentional destruction of human life.

Caldwell says "pro-life advocates portray stem cell research as cruel, inhumane torture." As the only consistent legislative testifier, along with the University of Hawaii medical school proponents, I can tell you that is simply untrue. What is true, but unmentioned in his piece, is that Caldwell's extreme legislative proposal also included a provision to establish the official state policy of Hawaii in favor of human cloning -- yes, that's right, human cloning.

Further, on the very same day the United Nations called on member states to ban human cloning, our Legislature was considering one of the many proposals on this subject asking the people of Hawaii through their elected representatives to approve this radical concept. Thankfully, after the U.N. vote, the human cloning provisions quietly disappeared from subsequent drafts.

Pursuant to SCR200, I look forward to working with those at the UH medical school who have been asked to convene a task force on these subjects and include representatives from the medical, scientific, ethical, religious and legal fields. I also look forward to the reasoned and deliberate community discussion likely to occur at the public forums UH has been asked to hold.

Finally, I also look forward to finding those significant areas of common ground in the area of adult stem cell research that could make Hawaii a leader in this vital area while avoiding the significant controversy and serious ethical drawbacks inherent in embryonic stem cell research and human cloning.

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