An Open Letter on Fetal Tissue Research

To Elected Officials:

After watching the first Select Investigative Panel hearing on March 2nd, I felt compelled to write to elected officials who support restrictions or bans on fetal tissue research and donation. But I would first like to start with two statements to all of you:

1) I understand.

2) I respect your deeply-held, personal opposition to abortion.

Too often we (myself included) fail to acknowledge, or flat out ignore, why the opposing side of controversial topics believe in their positions. On abortion, I get it. I don’t share your beliefs on choice, but I do understand. However, regardless of your beliefs or my beliefs, the fact remains that the U.S. Supreme Court decided, over 40 years ago, that a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her pregnancy is protected by our Constitution. And I have deep concerns about the continued attacks on this constitutionally-guaranteed right, often times conflating issues that are separate from abortion itself — like fetal tissue research and donation.

But if you feel as strongly about reproductive rights as I do, an open letter will not convince you to abandon your opposition — so that’s not my intention. I am writing this letter to request your consideration of the following points before casting a vote on any of the 50+ state and federal bills currently introduced to ban or restrict fetal tissue research and donation. And I urge you to keep in mind the millions of Americans living with and suffering from debilitating diseases and conditions that stand to benefit from fetal tissue research when you ultimately make your decision to support or abandon hope for cures.

First, if you’ve kept up with articles from media outlets over the past eight months, you will have read about the historical importance and future promise of fetal tissue research. If not, I encourage you to read any of the pieces out there, like Nature or the New York Times or NPR or the Washington Post or Politico or Time or USA Today or Cosmo or even MTV. To give a quick overview:

· Fetal tissue research was instrumental in the creation of the Polio vaccine.

· Cell lines derived from aborted fetal tissue are used to manufacture measles, rubella, rabies, chicken pox, shingles and hepatitis A vaccines (among others).

· Clinical trials are currently underway for devastating diseases and conditions like spinal cord injury, Osteogeneis imperfecta (or Brittle Bone Disease) and HIV.

· Fetal tissue is used to study autism, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, hepatitis B and C, ALS, multiple sclerosis, diabetes — just to name a few.

· Fetal tissue is being used in the understanding of, and vaccine development for, Ebola, dengue fever, and most recently, the Zika virus.

· Fetal tissue is irreplaceable for research into early human development, brain development, birth defects and premature births.

All of the astounding facts above are made possible through health clinics and medical facilities that have fetal tissue donation programs in place. I believe that the Center for Medical Progress videos were deceptively edited to show facilities illegally profiting from the donation of fetal tissue. You may disagree, however, I hope the fact that twelve state investigations found no evidence of illegal activities, or that eight states decided not to investigate the issue based on a lack of evidence, will at least make you question the authenticity of the videos.

Second, if you look hard enough, you can find fetal tissue research doubters. But even individuals who are opposed to abortion, like Panel Members Rep. Larry Bucshon (IN-08) and Rep. Andy Harris (MD-01), can recognize the value of the research. They just find it unethical to use fetal tissue derived from induced abortions. While I completely understand that position, it is simply impossible to have it both ways — the amount of tissue derived from miscarriages is insufficient and could contain defective genetic material. To quote a 1992 “Dear Colleague” letter sent to House and Senate members:

If you care about research to treat Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and birth defects, you should not be persuaded by any arguments that tissue from spontaneous abortions, miscarriages or tubal pregnancies will do enough. (Washington Post, 1992)

It should be noted that the letter was authored by a number of staunchly anti-abortion Members of Congress, including Rep. Fred Upton (MI-6) and then-Senators Strom Thurmond and Alan K. Simpson.

Finally, when you were sworn in, you accepted the responsibility and obligation to represent all of your constituents, not just the ones with whom you agree. Based on studies from around the country, the vast majority of Americans do not believe that we should restrict this science. One poll showed that only thirty-two percent of respondents support a ban on the use of fetal tissue from abortions in medical research. Another found that sixty-four percent are in favor of the research itself, and sixty-seven percent of respondents feel that fetal tissue research, and the cures and treatments derived from it, should not be banned. It is clear, to me at least, that when presented with the opportunity to improve or save lives, we should pursue it. And that is exactly what fetal tissue research has done, and will continue to do, if you and your fellow elected officials vote to reflect the will of the people.

Nearly everyone in this country has been, or will be, impacted by a devastating disease or condition. Whether it’s a family member, a friend, a neighbor, a coworker or a first-hand experience, haven’t we all hoped or prayed for a cure to help alleviate pain and suffering? In 1992, Sen. John McCain (AZ) opposed lifting the ban on federal funding for fetal tissue research. But after conversations with the family of his mentor, former Sen. Mo Udall who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Sen. McCain stated, “My abhorrence for the practice of abortion is unquestionable. Yet, my abhorrence for these diseases and the suffering they cause is just as strong.” It is precisely this expression of compassion — of the dedication to the lives of both loved ones and all Americans alike — that I hope guides your decision when faced with the opportunity to protect the hope of those who need it the most.

I recognize the potential moral dilemma you face, but I nevertheless ask that you please stand in support of fetal tissue research, as well as the donation of fetal tissue that makes this life-saving research possible. Thank you for your time and consideration.