Pro-Life Leader to Speak on Adult Stem Cell Research

Thursday morning, I will participate in a round-table event to discuss pro-life issues in Oklahoma. The featured guest will be Americans United for Life’s Vice President Daniel McConchie. As you may recall, AUL is the oldest, and in my opinion, perhaps most effective, pro-life law and policy organization in the country.

One of the featured topics will be the future of stem cell research. Later in the day, Mr. McConchie is scheduled to testify before the Oklahoma House of Representatives Health Subcommittee on Thursday, October 16 at 2:30 pm. Mr. McConchie will be addressing the moral and ethical issues surrounding stem cell research.

As we have blogged about before, adult-stem cell research is an exciting field, one that does not pose the moral problems of embryonic stem cell research.

According to an AUL press release, “Oklahoma this year passed the Advancement in Stem Cell Cures and Therapies Act (HB 3126), which is designed to encourage and foster stem cell research using only adult stem cells. The bill was sponsored by Rep. John T. Enns, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a farming accident in 2004.”

Mr. McConchie said, “We are seeing amazing advances from stem cell research every day. What most people don’t realize is that all of these advances are from adult stem cell research, not embryonic. Oklahoma can be a leader in cutting-edge research that doesn’t violate the sanctity of human life, and Representative Enns’ bill leads the way.”

The Health Subcommittee is hearing testimony as part of an interim study on the bill. Stay tuned for more updates at Pilgrim’s Progress.