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Originally posted by SaltyQueen
If researchers are able to find cures for dibetes & arthritis via stem cells, you can bet the pharmaceutical industry will be all over this, with dollar signs gleaming in their eyes. They are going to want to produce a LOT of these medications, which will take a LOT of embryos. Eventually, the supply of "leftover" embryos won't be sufficient, and they will need to produce more- thus you will have the "farming" of embryos. |
You know.....I see what you are saying, but I doubt that the majority of pharmaceutical company owners are sitting behind their desks with dollar signs gleaming in their eyes (I'm not saying there aren't any, but IMO the majority do have good intentions). As far as the "farming" of embryos comment....I just don't even want to go there. This is just the beginning of the research....who knows where it will lead....it may not turn out to be what was thought, or it may help millions of people.
You want to talk about dollar signs in the eyes....what about insurance companies that cause the cost of health care to rise? This is another debate, and I REALLY don't want to get involved in it.
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This may sound horrible & far-fetched, but I would hope no one is under the impression that drug companies develop & market new medications because they are "concerned" about the ill or for any other altruistic reasons. They are willing to spend millions to make billions. Have you ever seen the price of interferon injections for rheumatoid arthritis??? Over $1,000 for 4 injections (a 1 month supply)!!! Do you know how much money is made off of prescription medications for diabetes alone? It is mind boggling.
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I'm aware of the cost of health care and certain drugs...I watched my mother suffer from cancer for 4 years. You better believe we were researching
ALL possibilities for her quality of life. In the end she was part of a research group at Northwestern, and I hope she was able to provide some data for their results.
I talk with an owner of a Pharmaceutical company, and I don't think there is a greedy bone in his body....more like a very caring bone in his body that is trying to find cures for diseases that are very debilitating.
As mredman stated...Responsibility is the answer.
*Alright...I'll step off my soapbox now*