Tuesday, May 03, 2011

The Media's "Bait & Switch" Technique on Stem Cells

Barb Malek calls the press on its disingenuous coverage of stem cell issues in her latest essay. I print an excerpt below but you can read the whole thing at Erase the Need right here.

It is an obvious fact that adult stem cell research has left embryonic research far behind in terms of breakthroughs and advances. So, I guess it would seem only natural that the proponents of embryonic would attempt to piggyback on the success of adult. The press seems more than happy to add to the confusion; after all, they are quite experienced with deceit...

Embryonic research and adult stem cell research are as different as night and day. One works in a cannibalistic manner to assist one person’s life through the death of another. The other uses the life-giving cells found on a patient to help their body to heal itself. The first has not been successful so it is piggy-backing onto the triumphs of the other and hoping you won’t notice the difference. The omission of honest terminology can only be interpreted as an attempt at deceit by the press. If that is not fraud, I don’t know what is.

Whenever you read an article or see a television program that attempts to veil the truth in this way, please call them on it! For your own benefit, you can safely assume that if the research has been successful, then it is speaking of adult stem cell research. (Believe me, if embryonic research ever finds any success, you will know it is embryonic research. At that point, the distinction will be made very clear.) We must insist on journalistic honesty or things will continue to grow worse...