(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most adults in the United States appear to support medical research that uses stem cells obtained from human embryos, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 52 per cent of respondents would either place no restrictions on federal funding for this type of research or ease current limits.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most adults in the United States appear to support medical research that uses stem cells obtained from human embryos, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 52 per cent of respondents would either place no restrictions on federal funding for this type of research or ease current limits.
Conversely, 22 per cent of respondents would keep current restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, while 19 per cent believe this type of research should not be funded by the federal government.
There are three different types of human stem cells. Some of them come from embryos left over from in-vitro fertilization, which are habitually destroyed. These cells can develop into various tissues in the human body. Some scientists believe the research could be useful in the creation of new organs and in the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
In August 2001, then U.S. president George W. Bush cited ethical questions in his rationale to ban federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. In a nationally televised statement, Bush said, "While we’re all hopeful about the potential of this research, no one can be certain that the science will live up to the hope it has generated." During his tenure as president, Bush vetoed two bills related to embryonic stem cell research funding.
On Mar. 9, U.S. president Barack Obama signed an executive order that restores federal funding for research on all lines of available stem cells, declaring, "Scientists believe these tiny cells may have the potential to help us understand and possibly cure some of our most devastating diseases and conditions. (…) But that potential will not reveal itself on its own. Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident."
Polling Data
As you may know, the federal government currently provides very limited funding for medical research that uses stem cells obtained from human embryos. Which would you prefer the government to do: place no restrictions on government funding of stem cell research, ease the current restrictions to allow more stem cell research, keep the current restrictions in place, or should the government not fund stem cell research at all?
|
Feb. 2009 |
May 2007 |
May 2005 |
|
|
No restrictions |
14% |
22% |
11% |
|
Ease current restrictions |
38% |
38% |
42% |
|
Keep current restrictions |
22% |
20% |
24% |
|
Not fund at all |
19% |
16% |
19% |
|
Not sure |
7% |
4% |
4% |
Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,013 American adults, conducted from Feb. 20 to Feb. 22, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
