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THE MICHIGAN STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE TAKING A NEUTRAL POSITION ON AN UPCOMING BALLOT PROPOSAL THAT IS ASKING MICHIGAN TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH.
THIS IS A CHANGE IN THEIR POSITION OF THE LAST 5 YEARS OF SUPPORTING TAXPAYER FUNDING OF EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH.THE ARTICLE ISN'T CLEAR ON WHY THEY ARE CHANGING THEIR POSITION, BUT IN ADDITION TO THE MORAL ISSUES, I SUSPECT THE PRACTICAL DOCTORS OF MICHIGAN THINK IT IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY TO SPEND ON SOMETHING THAT HAS SHOWN NOTHING IN TERMS OF POSITIVE RESULTS.
I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROPOSAL:
Michigan residents would have access to any therapies and cures that may result from the research.LOOK AT THAT SENTENCE ABOVE ONE MORE TIME. LET'S TAKE THIS A LITTLE FURTHER AND LOOK AT IT PRAGMATICALLY. WHAT DO MICHIGAN TAXPAYERS REALLY HAVE TO GAIN BY FUNDING EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH?
Let's say the proposal passes and some state funded researcher 5 years from now discovers a cure for Alzheimers. I am purposely being overoptimistic for argument's sake (as there isn't an inkling of promise that embryonic stem cells will be able to cure any condition in the near future). Then, this cure for Alzheimers would have to be approved by the FDA and then go through the gauntlet of clinical trials and research that would take another 5 years at least (again, this is being overly optimistic as the trials most likely would take longer). If this cure passed muster, what then? Would this cure be only available to Michigan residents? An Alzheimer's patient in Ohio wouldn't be able to receive it? I presume the state of Michigan would own the intellectual property rights and then license it out for what? More money? And where would this money go? back into the taxpayers' bank accounts? I very much doubt it, back into the public coffers for more research most likely. In this best case scenario I just played out, the taxpayer funded research would be an investment for Michigan residents- and judging embryonic stem cell research based on its past failures- A very high risk investment at that with very little reward.