Stem cell debate: Should women get paid for eggs?

MS NBC ^ | 02.05.06 | Daniel S. Levine

[Coleus]

The ad in the back pages of the free Washington, D.C., news weekly was curious enough, warning women that they or their loved ones could suffer from debilitating diseases like Parkinson's or cancer and inviting them to let their eggs "be part of the cure."

But it's had reverberations 2,500 miles away where a debate in California is raging over how scientists can acquire the human eggs critical to stem cell research -- specifically, whether it is ethical or even legal to pay women thousands of dollars to provide them.

The ad in the Jan. 3 issue of The Washington Post Express was identified in a Washington Post story as being for Advanced Cell Technology, a Worcester, Mass.-based company that is soon expected to announce plans to open an office in the Bay Area. Advanced Cell Technology would not confirm or deny placing the ad. It acknowledged it is talking to Washington-area clinics about egg procurement, an issue that's been complicated by Massachusetts' restrictions on payment other than "expenses" for egg donors.

"At this stage we are not soliciting anything other than donations," said William Caldwell, IV, CEO of Advanced Cell Technology, which in the past paid women $4,000 for time, effort and expenses relating to egg donation. "That may change. Our ethics advisory board and our historical practice have allowed us to pay woman for pain and suffering, as well as lost wages, as well as child care."

A national debate

The voter-established California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, formed to direct $3 billion into stem cell research, is scheduled to vote Feb. 10 on standards that will spell out to what extent women can be compensated for providing eggs used in research funded by the institute. It's expected to limit payment to expenses -- but to broadly interpret expenses

[Coleus]

therapeutic Cloning, now doesn't that sound just real nice, you clone to help the ill.  But what's behind the phrase "therapeutic cloning"?  Barbarism, that's what's behind it.  It's really called Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer otherwise known as FETAL FARMING.  The way I understand it is this:  They get a donor egg and take out its nucleus and the nucleus from the cell of another person is inserted, then a small electric current is applied to the cell and an embryo/new baby is formed.   That's right, they clone a human, grow the baby in a surrogate mother while the baby is nourished and grows to 9 months of gestation.  Then the baby is killed  and is taken apart, piece by piece for its kidneys, liver, heart, corneas, cells, etc.  Sounds gruesome? It will never happen?  Well, it's in the laws in the state of NJ and CA.  Once the technology is available, it's already approved law.   Some nation we turned out to be.

FR Links:  scnt

The First Human Cloned Embryo
Human Cloning a Reminder of Nazis, Says Orthodox
Krauthammer: The Great Stem Cell Hoax

[Coleus]

Embryo Vivisection and Elusive Promises Act--California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative

[wagglebee]

Disgusting, what's next, offering women money to have abortions?

[Tax-chick]

I think that, if a state/country allows this research, it makes no sense for purchasing eggs to be illegal

[Uncledave]

Disgusting, what's next, offering women money to have abortions?

Well, an egg isn't a baby so I wouldn't equate the two. Men sell their sperm. Not for medical research but much of the point is the same. And sperm is often, shall we say "autonomously spilled", by oh about 100% of the male population.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

No. But they will. Men get paid for sperm.

[Coleus]

Well, an egg isn't a baby so I wouldn't equate the two. >>

Please read the article and the other links provided, the eggs/oocytes are being sold for the sole purpose of using the scnt process then grow a baby to term, kill it, then harvest it for its parts. Fetal Farming.

[Coleus]

Yea, I know, but the sperm isn't used for fetal farming, the eggs/oocytes are.

[Coleus]

I think that, if a state/country allows this research, it makes no sense for purchasing eggs to be illegal >>

Yea, I know, it is kind of strange, the weird thing is that selling eggs is against the law while fetal farming is allowed in two states while congress sits on their rears allowing a cloning bill languish. It defies logic, but then again the government is involved. I guess once the public sees that eggs are being sold, they may look further into what the govt. approved and why the eggs are needed in the first place.

[wagglebee]

Sperm banks exist for women who want to get pregnant so they can have a baby -- harvesting eggs to be used in Mengele-style science experiments by the Culture of Death is completely different.

[BlazingArizona]

With one hand, Big Pharma is patenting every part of the human genome its lawyers can get their mitts on; with the other, it hides behind a mask of moral high-mindedness when it comes to paying people for medical products from human donors.

Many of my fellow old-timers will remember when "blood bank" was NOT just an expression - these places functioned like actual banks. The blood you gave was accounted for, and if you needed surgical blood years later, you got credit for units you had donated. You could also sign over units to relatives and friends to mitigate their medical bills. No longer: no matter how much blood you donate, you get gouged for every unit you use.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I agree with you guys. I'm just saying that I think they will get paid and that the reason differences won't matter.

The issue is really all about the money anyway. They'll get paid because that's the only way this thing will get off the ground and be profitable.

[Coleus]

No longer: no matter how much blood you donate, you get gouged for every unit you use. >>

i don't like that new policy, what they tell donors now is that they can't guarantee blood if no blood is there. Many donors call their donor chairmen for blood for a loved one and all they can tell them that it's on a first-come first-served basis by FDA rules.

[Coleus]

I have a feeling that most of the legislators in this country have money invested in these enterprises.

[DoNotDivide]

People that mess with the sanctity of innocent life certainly must have no comprehension of the evil they are dealing with, or they wouldn't mess around with it.

There is a great and Holy Recorder of this world's affairs, and not one nanosecond goes without record.

[Tax-chick]

It defies logic, but then again the government is involved.

Excellent summary! It doesn't make sense. Paying for eggs for in-vitro fertilization is legal, but paying for babies to be carried to term (for adoption) instead of aborted isn't.

[Calpernia]

>>>Advanced Cell Technology, which in the past paid women $4,000 for time

Sheesh, in NY/NJ they offer $7,000.




Ya know, I would really be worried about conditions where women are being recommended hysterectomies now. Is the recommendation for harvesting???

[Calpernia]

bttt

[wagglebee]

I have a feeling that most of the legislators in this country have money invested in these enterprises.

I hate to be the one to bring this up, but when you consider all of the corporate grants and foundations and couple that with the money invested in mutual funds (including IRAs and 401Ks), pension funds and so forth, the chances are that just about every one of us has money invested in the Culture of Death.

I think if they marketed it right, a pro-life investment fund that thoroughly researched the interactions between the companies it invests in would be a huge success.