Michigan State Medical Society goes neutral on killing human embryos for research

Thanks to the work of prolife physicians and prolife legislators, the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) has changed their position on embryonic stem cell research. Since 2003, the MSMS, which represents more than 14,000 physicians in Michigan, had an official position which favored embryonic stem cell research. During a recent gathering, the members of the MSMS adopted a neutral position on human embryonic stem cell research and will provide its membership with more information on the issue over the next year.

Read Representative Kevin Green's letter, signed by 55 additional State House Members, to the Michigan State Medical Society.

Beware of Petition Circulators

Nina C.'s experience:

I was at the Secretary of State in Livonia this past Saturday with hundreds of other people. We were all waiting in line. A man was there collecting signatures. When he got near me, I asked what the petition was for and he said stem cells. (Not true, the petition is about embryonic stem cells only, not adult stem cells). Someone else asked why they need stem cells and he said to cure heart disease and other diseases. I said you have to kill an innocent human every time you remove the embryonic stem cells. He then said the embryos were just going to be wasted and would be thrown out anyway. I told him parents of frozen embryos have many options, including embryo adoption. I had to stay in line, so the collector just moved beyond my speaking range.

Have you been approached to sign a stem cell petition? Share your story.

Read other experiences.

Get the Facts Before You Act
Questions cloud petition

People are circulating petitions to have Michigan's Constitution changed. The proposed change would allow the killing of human embryos in Michigan for stem cell research. Men and women hold your pens! Cures are being falsely promised by these paid circulators: cures for cancer, cures for people with spinal cord injuries and cures to diabetes. Much is being pledged if Michigan’s Constitution is changed. Unfortunately, what’s being peddled to get people to sign the petition are lies. Get the facts before you act.

DANGER! Embryonic stem cell research with NO restrictions ahead

Proponents of embryonic stem cell research in Michigan are constantly claiming they want Michigan researchers to be on the "cutting edge" of embryonic stem cell experiments. The recent announcement out of Britain that scientists there have been able to create cloned embryos by mixing human DNA with the eggs of cows in an attempt to get embryonic stem cells demonstrates where that cutting edge is.
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Real Life: A Voice for the Voiceless

Abandoned on the side of a road in Nanhai, China, 5-day-old Maiya needed help. Maiya was adopted by a family from Michigan and seemed to be developing normally. But a year after Maiya's arrival doctors discovered she suffered from Rett Syndrome, a severe developmental disorder. There are many parallels between Maiya's struggle and the struggle for allowing human embryos to live according to Maiya's father, Scott. "We should protect all people, especially those who have no voice to do it themselves, including human embryos," Scott said.
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Embryo Adoption

EMBRYO OR TODDLER . . . FRANK IS STILL FRANK!
(Roll over image to see Frank as a Toddler)

Frank was adopted when he was just 4 cells old. Many seem to forget or ignore that embryo, toddler, adolescent and adult are merely words to describe levels of human development.

Destroying human life for research, even at its earliest stages of development, is a dangerous prospect. Saying these members of our society who have been frozen will be discarded anyway is inaccurate. Many are saved for future family building by their parents and others, like Frank, have been adopted by families who cannot conceive children on their own.
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A critical read through of text on the front page of the curemichigan.com website.

A critical read through of "Future of stem-cell research discussed" by Chad Livengood that appeared in the Feb. 21, 2008 Jackson Citizen Patriot.

A critical read through of the Op-Ed written by State Senator Gretchen Whitmer that appeared in the Lansing State Journal on Jan. 20, 2008.

A critical read through of "Op-Ed: Embryonic stem-cell ban shows state isn't serious" by Jack Lessenberry published in the Traverse City Record Eagle on Dec. 23, 2007.

A critical read through of "Stem cell discovery might help state life-sci industry" published in the Ann Arbor Business Review on Dec. 6, 2007.

A critical read through of "More travel overseas for stem cell therapy" published in the Detroit News on November 29, 2007.

Michigan's laws which prohibit the killing of human embryos for research and human cloning have often been mislabeled as a "ban on stem cell research." Read the legislation for yourself.