Dr Oz tells Oprah and Michael J. Fox: ‘The Stem Cell Debate is Dead.’

 MARCH 31, 2009 — During today’s appearance on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” the popular cardiovascular surgeon and television personality, Dr. Mehmet Oz, announced to a stunned audience that due to advances in adult stem cell technology, the debate over embryonic stem cells “is dead.”

Even more remarkable is that Dr. Oz made this announcement while sitting next to actor Michael J. Fox, a victim of Parkinson’s disease and a staunch crusader on behalf of embryonic stem cell research.

While holding up the brain of a 50-year-old man to illustrate his point, Dr. Oz explained: “The problem with embryonic stem cells is that embryonic stem cells come from embryos, like all of us were made from embryos, and those cells can become any cell in the body, but it’s very hard to control them and so they can become cancer.”

He then adds, “Now, I’m going to say something that’s going to be a bit provocative. I think, Oprah, the stem cell debate is dead, and I’ll tell you why.”

Dr. Oz goes on to explain about advances in the use of iPS (induced pluripotent stem) cells that involve the reprogramming of ordinary skin cells into stem cells that behave almost exactly like embryonic stem cells — only without many of the risks.

Taking Mr. Fox’s hand, Dr. Oz says, “Here’s what the deal is. I can take a little bit of your skin, take those cells, get them to go back in time, so they are like they were when you were first made, and then they will start to make that dopamine; and I think those cells, because they won’t be as prone to cancer, and because they’re your genes, will be the ones that are ultimately used to cure Parkinson’s.”

Dr. Oz goes on to say there will be “a big impact in the lives of [those with] Parkinson’s disease, but also diabetics, heart attacks victims, people who have had a lot of problems” and a cure “in our lifetime.” He adds, “And that’s exciting to all of us in medicine.”

Embryonic stem cell research, which requires the destruction of human life, has been plagued with setbacks in the laboratory such as problems with rejection and the propensity of these cells to spawn tumors. As a result, embryonic stem cell research has yet to be used to treat a single human condition.

On the other hand, adult stem cell technology has been experiencing rapid advances in recent years and is being used to treat a host of conditions including cancer, autoimmune diseases, strokes, cartilage and bone damage, and heart and liver disease.

Vote NO on using tax dollars for failed embryonic stem cell research! NO on HB 2598-A