Politics and Science: the stem cell wars

If you get a chance please read the 'News in Focus' piece in the 22nd Sept. Nature; 'Texas prepares to fight for stem cells', by David Cyranoski.

Some quotes from the article to wet your appetite:

Paul Knoepfler: 'Any procedure involving removing cells from the body and manipulating them — even if it's something as simple as centrifuging them or putting them in a plastic tube — and then putting them elsewhere in the body poses risks.'

Paul Knoepfler:  'Patient testimonials cited by the people selling the treatments have little if any meaning.'

Kirstin Matthews: 'I do believe governor Perry is pushing research to the clinic too quickly.'

Bettie Sue Masters: 'I feel that we must protect patients from risky treatments advanced by overzealous, even greedy, entrepreneurs.'

"What is unbelievable is that, Texas governor Rick Perry, and Presidential candidate, had treatment with his own stem cells to treat a back complaint. The procedure was carried out by Stanley Jones, a surgeon based in Houston, Texas, who specialises in cosmetic procedures and who is a friend of Rick Perry."

"Politicians, like neurologists, have social responsibilities and need to realise that their actions may have unexpected consequences. I would be interested to meet Rick Perry's scientific adviser or advisers." 

"We really need an open debate about stem cell therapies so that we can try and prevent MS'ers from taking unnecessary risks and being exploited by Charlatans." 

"At present, no MS'ers should be receiving stem cell therapy outside of a clinical trial and they should definitely not be having to pay for it. At the moment stem cell therapy is experimental."