Georgia’s Slippery Slope Battle Against Stem Cells
Georgia is about to take the Pro-Life/Stem Cell argument to a place that could result in backlash of epic proportions. The Washington Post lays out what’s happening.
Last Thursday, the Georgia House passed a bill that declares embryos are children and therefore can be adopted. Meanwhile, the Georgia Senate passed a bill that defines a living human embryo as a person and prohibits the destruction of an embryo for any reason, such as scientific research.
Critics say the bills would criminalize stem cell research — and possibly abortion — in Georgia. Supporters say its an effort to respect and preserve life.
Embryos are children and therefore can be adopted? By who? Anyone? And if the biological parents don’t want their “extra” embryos adopted then will their only choice be an eternal deep freeze? Does this scenario strike anyone else as a cross between an X-Files episode and a bad Danielle Steel novel?
It also strikes me that taking on IVF programs is a huge mistake for Pro-Life groups. They so don’t want to go there. In fact, in the past they have gone out of their way to avoid the pesky IVF surplus embryo conundrum because they knew it was a losing argument in the court of public opinion.
And, yet, here they are, jumping into a fight with people desperate to create life. I hope they realize they’ll need a new playbook because I’m not seeing how calling IVF recipients baby killers is a winning strategy. This is shaping up to be a Life vs Life fight, and one I think needs to be waged. The Pro-Life’s avoidance of the IVF medical waste issue has always smacked of hypocrisy by placing condemnation solely on the destroyed embryos of abortions while turning a blind eye to the destroyed embryos of people desperately trying to have a baby.
These bills are the opening shot across the bow of IVF – Which I’m not sure is the fight Pro-Lifers intended to pick when crafting these rushed, ridiculously transparent (anti-abortion) bills. But, intended or not, Georgia has thrown the first punch.
Tags: Stem Cells
I’ll adopt a couple, throw them in my freezer and claim them as dependants when I file my taxes. Yep, I’m all for it.
It will also redefine population centers and change congressional representation.
I wonder if they consider eggs chickens.
“I’ll order the sunny-side-up chicken…nah, make that scrambled chickens.”
“Mmm…some Kentucky Fried Eggs sure sounds delicious.”
Seriously, how…HOW is that different (aside from the animal v human part)?
LOL, Meatball and Smitty.
I’m tellin’ ya, it’s a slippery slope.
Critics say the bills would criminalize stem cell research — and possibly abortion — in Georgia.
So what, it’s freaking Georgia. If you want to do stem cell research or get in vitro, GET OUT.
“So he loaded up the truck and moved on out to Bever-lee…”
Dems might have cash in the freezer, but Republicans have actual constituents in the freezer.
They were a lot more fun chasing down those Duke boys from Hazzard County.
Okay… seriously, I think taking on IVF is a big mistake.
I doubt they’re laughing about it at Emory U.
Republicans have actual constituents in the freezer.
Listen UP, ACORN! There are voters who really do need new names in those freezers.
Sorry, P. 😛
Yes, I think taking IVF on is a mistake for a special interest group/movement. I also think all of this is a short-sighted reaction to Obama rescinding Bush’s ban on Federal funding. It’s short-sighted, because I believe that they are looking at it soley for the embryonic-stem-cell research and not at the big picture of how it would affect IVF. Then again, that’s typical of hyperactive special-interests, they want what benefits them now, with no regard to the eventual consequences.
There has been an “embryo adoption” movement. Remember the “snowflake babies.” These are babies born from excess embryos from IVF. The problem is there are way too many to “adopt” out, unless we want a bunch more octomoms.
Another issue is when embryos are unfrozen, there are a certain number of them that are destroyed. Will that be murder? Will keeping them frozen be required by law then?
This law leads to a whole bunch of strange arguments, like could a woman’s period be homicide if there is a fertilized egg that wasn’t implanted? I really don’t think this law would withstand Constitutional scrutiny, but if Georgia wants to drive scientists out of their state this could be a good way to do it.
There are a lot of questions. How many parents would be comfortable letting other people adopt their embryos? Geez, talk about scenarios that will keep you up at night. And the eternal freezing is just too sci-fi creepy.
And Smitty, you’re right. I’m sensing very little brain power behind this action.
Can they vote after 18 years in the deep freezer?
“I wonder if they consider eggs chickens.”
We don’t, mostly because you don’t eat fertilized chicken eggs. Unless you have some very interesting tastes…
“Seriously, how…HOW is that different (aside from the animal v human part)?”
If the egg is fertilized I would see it as on part with eating an adult chicken. Then again, I think adult chickens are down right tasty and have no problem eating them
Interesting response, Tom, especially since you’ve been quite clear on your Pro-Life positions in the past. Why did you dodge the point of this post?
There was a foodie trend sometime ago for eating fertilized eggs — you could buy them at any decent farmer’s market. There were lots of wild claims about the health effects of eating fertilized eggs (including that they were lower in cholesterol) but as far as I know none of those claims were ever proven.
Wouldn’t laws that define age have monetary consequences, such as all those underage drinking fines for those who were caught 9 months prior to their birth, shouldn’t there be a refund?
I guess other state benefits kick-in 9 months early too….
Damn, I guess I need to study my chickens more beyond the choice of BBQ or Teriyaki.
I still think scrambled chickens has a ring to it.
The Pro-life movement has never avoided the IVF issue. We don’t like it because of its complications. That said, it is the creation of life not the destruction of life. Other states already allow the adoption of embryos. It is a good move. These embryos are there in limbo and will eventually die if some action isn’t taken.
Adoption can happen in GA now, but having a legal framework protecting everyone involved is needed. I applaud the legislature.
I believe that the current property status of these human beings is akin to slavery. The idea that we can make human beings for experimentation or spare parts is appalling. How can you support it?
So, an infertile couple takes the IVF path and creates a family, but there are extra embryos. Are you really saying that those embryos should be put up for adoption against the biological parents’ wishes? And I guess we’d have to track those embryos so that when Johnny and Suzie marry everybody is sure they’re not siblings.
And, would these adopted embryos have the same right to contact their biological parents that adopted children have?
Slip, slip, slippin’