The deans and top administrators from Missouri’s seven medical higher education institutions have joined to urge the passage of Constitutional Amendment 2, the Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative.
In a letter published in the September/October issue of Missouri Medicine, the deans said Missouri’s efforts to take a leading role in the development of stem cell cures depends on the ability of Missouri scientists to conduct stem cell research, on physicians’ ability to prescribe treatments that may come from the research and on the rights of patients to have access to the treatments.
Amendment 2, backed by Washington University, would ensure that Missouri patients have equal access to any federally approved stem cell therapies and cures that are available to patients nationwide. In addition, it would allow Missouri’s world-class medical institutions, including the School of Medicine, to conduct stem cell research allowed by federal law and help find potential therapies and cures ethically and safely.
The initiative also bans human cloning or attempts to clone a human being, as well as the purchase or sale of human blastocysts or eggs for stem cell research, therapies and cures.
Last week, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton outlined in a letter to employees the University’s support for both Amendments 2 and 3, the Tobacco Initiative.
“Amendment 2 allows Missouri medical institutions, such as the School of Medicine, to conduct stem-cell research and help identify potential therapies and cures,” Wrighton said. “A ‘no’ vote leaves open the door for the state legislature to again attempt to ban certain kinds of stem cell research and establish criminal penalties for researchers, doctors and patients who participate in this research.”
Stem cells have the potential to provide cures for diseases and injuries that afflict hundreds of thousands of Missouri children and adults and millions of other Americans — including diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, heart disease, ALS, sickle cell disease and spinal-cord injury, according to the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, of which the University is a member.
The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, comprised of non-profit patient groups, medical associations, interfaith and civic organizations and individual physicians and medical professionals, is co-chaired by former U.S. Sens. John Danforth and Tom Eagleton; Michael DeBaun, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics and director of the Sickle Cell Medical Treatment and Education Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital; and Hugh Stephenson, M.D., former president of the University of Missouri System Board of Curators.
Signing the letter along with Larry J. Shapiro, M.D., executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, are:
• Barbara Atkinson, M.D., executive vice chancellor, University of Kansas Medical Center;
• William Crist, M.D., dean, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine;
• Betty Drees, M.D., dean, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City;
• William Neaves, Ph.D., president and chief executive, Stowers Institute for Medical Research;
• Philip Slocum, D.O., dean, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine; and
• Sandra Willsie, D.O., executive vice president for academic affairs, provost and dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine and professor of Medicine, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.
The proposed amendment can be found in full at www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/ppStemCell.asp.
The University also supports Amendment 3, which would bring Missouri’s cigarette tax up from the nation’s second-lowest of 17 cents a pack closer to the national average, which is about $1 a pack. It would also increase the tax on other tobacco products by 20 percent.
Missouri has the second-highest smoking rate in the nation and the lowest spending rate on smoking prevention and cessation programs, according to the American Lung Association of Missouri. By raising the tobacco tax, the state would bring in an estimated $351 million annually in new revenue, which would pay for improved health-care access for uninsured and low-income Missourians, smoking-prevention programs for children and youth and cessation programs for smokers.
The proposed amendment can be found in full at www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/ip200623.asp?pid=25.
“As a leading research and teaching institution, Washington University is committed to improving the health and well-being of Missourians through education, cutting-edge research and access to the highest level of patient care,” Wrighton said.
“Constitutional Amendments 2 and 3 further all these goals. I urge all members of the Washington University community to consider carefully these ballot measures, and to vote Nov. 7.”
For more information, go online to www.missouricures.com or www.healthymissouri.org.
Washington University response to William Harbour’s comments regarding Amendment 2