SPINNING IN THEIR GRAVES (via Robert Schwartz):

Stem cell hopes distorted by 'arrogance and spin' (Tim Radford, September 5, 2005, The Guardian)

A leading scientist who pushed for the controversial research into embryo stem cells will warn today that the challenges are so huge that any cures for disease lie a long way in the future.

Lord Winston, who pioneered fertility research in the UK, is to tell the British Association for the Advancement of Science, meeting in Dublin, that during the political campaign to push through legislation in 2001, some parliamentarians were led to believe that clinical treatments were "just around the corner". Some of the lobbying came from patients' groups, but it was stimulated by scientific observations.

"When disappointment sets in, as may be possible, we can expect a massive backlash by the 'right to life' groups, who are always ready to pounce when they perceive a chink in our arguments," he will say. He singles out embryo stem cells as a case study in scientific arrogance and the dangers of "spinning" a good story.

Will he be wearing his "I embraced the Culture of Death and all I got was this t-shirt"?

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 7, 2005 12:52 PM