Colorado Medical Society

Introduced by: Sherri Laubach, MD, Lynn Parry, MD, Rick May, MD

Subject: Stem Cell Research

Referred to: Reference Committee on Health Affairs

WHEREAS, stem cell research holds tremendous promise and is critical to continuing the progress of treating multiple diseases, and

WHEREAS, another potential application of stem cells is making cells and tissues for medical therapies which could assist in meeting the demand for replacement organs and tissues for those that are diseased or destroyed, and

WHEREAS, more than 100 million Americans suffer from cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and other debilitating diseases and disorders for which embryonic stem cell research holds great promise in finding new and better treatments and cures, and

WHEREAS, ethical considerations regarding stem cell research have been addressed through the establishment of ethical guidelines for the conduction of stem cell research as well as research protocols, and

WHEREAS, the federal restriction on the use of human embryos derived after August 9, 2001 in federally funded research has limited access of U.S. laboratories to human stem cells, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that CMS supports stem cell research conducted within appropriate ethical guidelines; and be it further

RESOLVED, that CMS opposes federal restrictions on stem cell research and funding conducted according to ethical guidelines established by the medical community.

FISCAL IMPACT: None