A bill authored by my pal Sen. Mary Pilcher Cook that would establish a stem cell center in Kansas–no embryonic research allowed–has passed the Kansas Senate. From the legislative summary:
The bill would state that all funds and facilities of the Center must be dedicated to treatments and research with adult, cord blood and related stem cells and non-embryonic stem cells. The bill would specifically prohibit the use of funds or facilities involving embryonic or fetal tissue cells.Finally, the bill would establish definitions associated with the creation of the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center, including the terms “adult, cord blood and related stem cells,”“embryonic stem cells,” “facilities,” “fetal tissue cells,” and“non-embryonic stem cells.”
The stem cell controversy concerns deep disagreements about core ethics. That’s why all the screaming. This idea allows a common way forward by focusing on areas of agreement rather than discord. Nice. Let’s hope the Kansas House sees that as a virtue.