Life is for the Living

Older Comments on Life is for the Living

• Posted 09/30/09 by Meagan
  If you watch the documentary, rather than simply commenting for the sake of propogating your opinion, you would know the documentary is focusing on the supporting side of embryonic stem cell research (the term fetus refers to developing life after the embryonic stage, so to call it fetal stem cell would be incorrect). Also, to say it is a failure is somewhat unfair; it took about 250 years after the discovery of bacteria for us to accidentally stumble upon penicillin--and it took another 12 before we realized its potential. Given that scientists have only known how to derive stem cells from embroyos for 11 years, I don't think it's right to declare it a failure, especially given that the research has been largely underfunded. I find most documentaries are slanted one way or another; I think many times the directors are passionate about their view of the topic, and that is what makes the film so compelling. I also think, in the case of this topic, it is important to hear the voices of those whose lives are impacted by the research, or lack thereof. Those who oppose the research are not negatively nor positively impacted if it is done; no one will force them to accept treatment or actively contribute to the research. However, those who suffer from such a disease must continue to cope with pain and loss of quality of life. It seems that, as their lives will assuradely deteriorate without such research, their voices should be given the strongest consideration. I would highly suggest watching this documentary, especially before submitting any comments regarding it. Uninformed opinions are the lowest kind.
• Posted 08/22/09 by Kell
  Are they talking about adult stem cell research or fetal stem cells? Even if you're a Peter Singer groupie (i.e. think it's OK to kill anyone up to the age of two), the truth is fetal stem cell research is a great big expensive failure. (For one thing, introducing stem cells from an unknown fetal person into someone else's body is a great way to give someone cancer, let alone all the usual tissue rejection issues.) The only successful treatments so far have come from modifications of a patient's own stem cells. And, BTW, abortion is murder. Another translation of this title would be, "Power to the fittest, i.e. if I'm bigger than you are, I get to kill you and take your cells." Some of these people who are physically vulnerable might want to think about that for awhile -- we may well see a time when the organs of people with disabilities (i.e. people whose quality of life is "substandard", right?) are harvested for the 100% people (non-disabled) who are "really alive."
• Posted 07/08/09 by Mani
  A well done doc, but clearly biased and so unable to present the "debate" fairly. Still, it's something to encourage conversation.