I finally emailed the president. After years of saying I should write the president and tell him what I think of this or that bill, today I finally did it. What topic did I discuss with him? Human embryo research.

It sounds like a high and lofty title doesn't it? It sounds like it would deliver truly great discoveries to the human race wouldn't it? Truth is it is murder in disguise and we should not be deceived any longer.

Sadly enough my own American Academy of Pediatrics is a strong supporter of federally guided and funded human embryo research. They released an official statement in mid-July, which is full of words like "possibility," may be," "potential," and "anticipated," and it lacked words like certain, truth, and reality. Let's look at this issue point by point. You will notice that I put the word "baby" next to embryo since that is what they are.

First point, is it right or wrong? The advocates for human embryo research say "despite the possibility of important therapeutic advances resulting from research using human embryos (baby) or embryonic stem cells, some believe that any activity that results in the destruction of human embryos (babies) is morally problematic. They argue that the ends do not justify the means." Do you see how ridiculous these arguments are when you realize that we are dealing with completely human babies? Of course, the means do not justify the ends because it means justifying murder of children to potentially help other children.

Second point, destroy embryos for a "good" reason. As quoted from the AAP statement "opponents of research associated with the destruction of human embryos (babies) are not swayed by attempts to separate the research from the procurement of the necessary stem cells or from embryos (babies) discarded as part of the process of in vitro fertilization." It does not matter whether you are discarding embryos (babies) after research, for research, or after in vitro fertilization - you are discarding human life and that better make you stop and think.

Third point, when is it safe to perform research? The NIH has decided that 14 days is the boundary beyond which research will not occur because they reason after 2 weeks twinning does not happen and it is "more difficult to consider an embryo as a distinct, developing individual." Secondly, they state the primitive streak, the nervous system precursor, does not develop until 14 days. "This choice reflects an argument that the early embryo before 14 days of development is not the equivalent of a fetus or person and, thus, may be used in research under certain additional conditions." Let me get this right, a human embryo (baby), is not a human equivalent and thus may be subjected to maiming and murder to discover potential benefits for other humans? Seems like the medical research community needs to go back to biology 101 because they don't know what they are saying.

Think about this folks. Think about what Dr. Jane? If you ask one question, all these "arguments" for human embryo research are mute. Ask yourself from where does human life come? The scientists mix the egg and sperm, but who gives the spark that makes the two strands of DNA into one person? Whether you believe in God or not the answer to these questions comes from HIM.

In psalm 139, the psalmist says "for You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb…my frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret… Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written the days fashioned for me when as yet there were none of them." Also, God knew and spoke specifically of Samson, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Jesus well before they were conceived. If we had any further doubts, He says to the people of Israel "I have formed him, yes I have made him" Isaiah 43:7. From God's perspective our lives begin before we are strands of intertwined DNA. He makes us with a specific purpose and meaning to our lives before we take shape recognizable as human. Furthermore, we need to understand that our lack of acceptance of this value is irrelevant; we do not change the value of a lump of cells by acknowledging human life or not. It is human life formed and gifted by God -- period. No amount of scientific knowledge or rules for embryonic (baby) handling changes this value.

So where does this leave those of you who are sick and hope that embryonic (baby) stem cells offer you new hope? You can not condone nor use human embryonic (baby) research to benefit you -- it is wrong. Life is a gift from God to cherish and protect, not to ransack. So does this mean you are alone in your pain? Not at all, God has a special place in His heart for sufferers, but we usually run from Him during suffering instead of running to Him. He has answers and timing that is different from ours, but that does not mean you should give up on Him. Remember He created you, so He knows best how to help you. "Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" Joshua 1:9. Unlike human marriages, in our union with God says He will be with us through sickness and in health and He means it. "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" 1 Peter 5:6.

So should we hate those who do or support human embryo (baby) research? Certainly not, we are called to love our enemies not hate them, to bless them and not curse them. Speak the Truth in love and pray that their hearts and minds would be open to God's perspective, then allow Him work with them as only He can and wait for His timing.

Our nation will be responsible for every life that we waste or murder in the end. What we think will not matter, but whether we were obedient to God's commands will. It is clear in Amos 1:13 that God destroys those who murder the unborn, so pray about this topic, read these verses, and ask the Lord what part you play in the solution to saving our children.

Until next week,

Dr. Jane