Research for a Cure

AFLO’s Position on Stem Cell Research

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Canadians are diagnosed with, or die of, debilitating diseases or injury. The impact of preventable diseases not only affects those who are ill, but also their families, their friends, their colleagues and their communities. Each of us longs for the day when the world will be rid of devastating diseases like Cancer, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and many more. Scientists are hopeful that day will come, particularly since the advent of stem cell research.

Alliance for Life Ontario supports stem cell research, but there is a distinct difference between embryonic and adult stem cell research that often becomes blurred by the bio-tech industry and various research foundations. While it is important to support research for cures to devastating diseases on behalf of the sick and disabled, we must also make known the embryonic stem cell research involves the destruction of human life and therefore directly contradicts the very purpose of medical science.

The great moral principle of respect for every human being places limits on what we can do to some for the benefit of others. This principle forbids the treatment of living human beings at any stage or in any condition as exploitable and expendable “research material.”

Through adult stem cell research has a long history of producing real cures, the information through mainstream media and some research organizations tends to ignore and obscure the medical breakthroughs that have been made by adult stem cell research. Playing on the emotions of suffering patients and giving them empty promises of cures while neglecting to inform them of scientific advances resulting in real cures, is disturbing.