Liveblogging: Dissecting Adult Stem Cell Lies with Truthiness

Senator Brownback referenced David Prentice's list of 72 cures or treatments produced by adult stem cells, and Senator Harkin ripped it apart. Hatch had introduced letters from leukemia and lymphoma groups, both mentioned as having adult stem cell cures, earlier in the day supporting the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S. 5).

Hatch didn't stop there, and went on to produce letters from groups representing four other conditions with supposed adult stem cell cures.

Testicular Cancer
"There is not an FDA
approved ASC treatment generally available to treat testicular cancer.
Rather, adult stem cells enable testicular cancer patients to withstand a higher dose of chemotherapy during treatment for the disease. ... The
Lance Armstrong Foundation asks that you and your colleagues pass S. 5, and not accept any substitutes." -- Lance Armstrong Foundation

Parkinson's Disease
"If there were a therapy to adequately treat the symptoms, or halt the progression of this unrelenting disease, the millions of Parkinson's patients, caregivers, and their physicians would be pursuing that treatment right now. The Parkinson's community asks that you and your colleagues pass S. 5, and not accept any substitutes." -- American Parkinson's Association, Parkinson's
Action Network, Michael
J. Fox Parkinson's Research Foundation, The National Parkinson's
Foundation, Parkinson's Disease Foundation, and The Parkinson's
Alliance and Unity Walk

Multiple Sclerosis
"S. 5 is the only bill that is pro-patient, pro-cure, and pro-research. Please work to pass S. 5
immediately." -- National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Spinal Cord Injury
"There simply is no merit to any claims that adult stem cells have successfully treated or cured spinal cord injury. The CDRF strongly endorses the SCREA, S. 5." -- Christopher and
Dana Reeve Foundation

On a personal note, since I'm a quadriplegic, I would like to thank Senator Harkin for speaking the truth.