Dr. Oz Tells Michael J. Fox He is Wrong About Embronic Stem Cells
I hate it when celebrity disease victims are used for political purposes--as was the case, I fear, with Big Biotech and Parkinson's patient Michael J. Fox, who has spent years telling the country falsely that the Bush ESCR funding policy was keeping people like him from being cured, because that is what he was being told. On Oprah the other day, Fox tried to say that again--but was set straight--gently, as was proper, by a Columbia Medical School professor and (I guess) Oprah regular guest named Dr. Oz. From the show transcript summary (go to page 11):
Michael says America has a lot of ground to make up when it comes to stem cell research. "We had eight years where there was no forward progress and some things people don't even understand," he says.That's ludicrous and ignorant, of course. Billions have been spent in human ESCR in the USA alone in the last ten years. But they have problems, they cause tumors and may not be usable directly for Parkinson's (absent cloning) due to tissue rejection problems.
But Dr. Oz says the embryonic stem cell debate is "dead," which interestingly, is not recounted in the transcript overview, but was stated clearly in the video of the pertinent section of the interview. He then states in the "last year we have advanced 10 years:"
Thanks to recent scientific discoveries, Dr. Oz says [embryonic] stem cells aren't the only solution. [Me: No, he said they probably weren't going to work] "We went to a place we never thought we would go," he says. "I can take a little bit of your skin, take those cells and get them to go back in time so they're like they were when you were first made."He is referring to a different kind of stem cell than ESCs, and that is the induced pluripotent stem cells.
Dr. Oz says these skin cells, which contain your genes and are less prone to cancer, will be the ones that are ultimately used to cure Parkinson's. "I think we're single digit years away from making a big impact in the lives of [people with] Parkinson's disease, but also diabetics and heart attack victims," he says.
I hope Oz is right about the prospect to treat Parkinson's and the time frame he predicts. But I am not sure he is right about the science being settled or the stem cell debate being over. Remember, this is an issue that is much bigger than the sum of its parts, not only scientifically, but what it symbolizes about right and wrong and the value of human life, simply and merely because it is human.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 9:58 PM
13 Comments
13 Comments:
It's interesting that they characterized the what Dr. Oz said in that way. "it's not the only one" and "it probably won't work" are patently different. Why does this "retelling" of the show get put up-- and not an actual transcript?
As for it being "dead", I think Dr. Oz is giving us his wishful -- or naive-- thinking. He is a doctor who seems very up on his science. Lots of scientists, particularly those not in this spcific area, are too satisfied with the politically correct sound bites to pay attention to what it actually happening.
The Wisdom of Oz
Visualize the surreal image of Oprah Winfrey, Michael J Fox and Dr. Mehmet Oz, wearing purple surgical gloves, sitting on stage around a human brain. Dr. Oz explains the absence of Nigro-Striatal Neurons in the brain of Parkinson’s patients while lifting out partially dissected chunks of brain and placing them into Michael’s shaking hand.
The camera zooms in as Dr. Oz steadies Michael’s hand in his. Dr. Oz weaves an intimidating, steel needle between Michael’s gloved and trembling fingers and illustrates the procedure for injecting stem cells into the brain by plunging it both into and through the quivering cerebellum. Michael’s legs spasm and contort and my stomach clenches empathetically with what I sense is Michael’s extreme discomfort, but is really a symptom of his condition.
And yet, NOTHING could have prepared me for what happened next as Dr. Oz, unbelievably and without prelude or warning, makes the stunning statement:
“I think, Oprah, the stem cell debate is dead.”
“The problem with embryonic stem cells is that embryonic stem cells come from embryos, like all of us are made from embryos, and those cells can become any cell in the body, but it’s very hard to control them and so they can become cancer.”
While astonished by his public announcement, I soon began to wonder: “why did Dr Oz only briefly allude to the potential of iPS cells and the proven benefits of adult stem cell treatments?” And then it became clear.
Dr Oz recognizes that the average person on an American street is led to believe, “a stem cell is an embryo is a stem cell”. Due to years of misleading media saturation, as far most Americans know, there are no other stem cells besides embryonic. Walk down the street and ask someone “what is an adult stem cell…what is an iPS cell”, and your inquiries will surely be met by blank stares.
So in retrospect, what Oz DID do, was truly…amazing.
Shunning the history of the love/hate affair Americans have with Embryonic stem cell research and ignoring the majority of US media over the past 5 years, the decrees of President Obama’s funding policies, the positions of the FDA and AMA and the fruitless decade long public pursuit of embryonic cures undertaken by Michael J Fox (with the benevolent and optimistic spirit of Christopher Reeve hovering over him) and before the bewildered eyes of Michael, Oprah and ~7.2 million viewers, Dr Mehmet Oz nailed the coffin shut on ESC treatments:
“I think, Oprah, the stem cell debate is dead.”
With this one simple statement on national TV, Dr Oz has taken the first step towards educating the American public about the current insurmountable limitations of embryonic stem cells and cracked open the door to the American collective mind-set regarding the potential of iPS cells and the reality that Repair stem cells (RSC) have been treating diseases around the world successfully for a decade. Despite the fact that thousands of American doctors refer to RSC as “snake oil,” more and more American patients are realizing that the US medical system is faltering, dated and just not working while the greatest medicine the world has ever seen is available just beyond the borders of their own country.
The seeds planted by Dr Oz will take a long time to find purchase in the collective American mind-set. There is too much embryonic momentum, media and drama, and America loves drama. Embryonic stem cells will not go away and like Romeo and Juliet, this love/hate affair may have to run its course for most, despite Dr Oz stealing the “distilled liquor” and Romeo’s poison and dagger in an attempt to avoid all of the deaths at the end of this play.
To read more about this grim fairy tale: http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/a-grim-fairy-tale-americas-doomed-love-affair-with-embryonic-stem-cell-research-intro-the-romance-is-an-illusion/
One step at a time we will climb this mountain and slowly open American eyes to improve their knowledge of treatment options so all can intelligently exercise the freedom of choice in their individual medical care. One inch at a time, Oz wisely created a pathway to an amazing new world of available medical treatments for what were previously believed to be incurable diseases and are in fact treating patients successfully around the world.
Dr Oz took this first step and it was a HUGE first step!
So from where I am sitting, I would like to express my heartfelt and sincerest appreciation for Dr Oz’s bravery, statements and actions. Thank you, Dr. Oz and thank you Oprah; for allowing this sage doctor the forum to break the walls restricting millions of Americans from the knowledge of the medical treatment options they so unquestionably deserve.
To see the original video:
http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/oprah-michael-j-fox-dr-mehmet-oz-the-stem-cell-debate-is-over/
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And for holy terror, here is the actual transcript based on my ears and fingers and a lot of patient rewinding:
“I think, Oprah, the stem cell debate is dead.”
“The problem with embryonic stem cells is that embryonic stem cells come from embryos, like all of us are made from embryos, and those cells can become any cell in the body, but it’s very hard to control them and so they can become cancer.”
“I can take a little bit of your skin, take those cells, get them to go back in time so they are like they were when you were first made, and then they will start to make that dopamine & I think those cells, because they won’t be as prone to cancer & because they’re your genes will be the ones that are ultimately used to cure Parkinsons.”
“I think we are single digit years away from making a big impact in the lives of Parkinson’s disease but also diabetics, heart disease, people who have had a lot of problems.”
you can see the video here:
http://www.oprah.com/media/20090319-tows-dr-oz-brain
Holy Terror, his comments were not PC at all. They were anti-PC. ESCR is the PC stem cell research and ESCs are the PC stem cells. That's why he's getting so much attention. I'm shocked that the guy said it on Oprah and said it in the presence of MJ Fox. His reputation and his appearances on Oprah are probably in danger. That took guts. I think the way he framed shows he is aware of it.
I think this could have a bizarre impact. Non-ESCs have been performing unbelievably for a long time without their success and potential breaking into the open because of the political value of ESCs. We've got great progress, peer reviewed studies and great minds advocating it. What if what gives ASCR validity with the American people and America's change of mind comes down to "I saw it on Oprah." God help us. Now if we could just get that Dr. to go on the View, that would do it.
I can imagine the female hosts chatting about it in the opening of The View.
I can imagine the female hosts chatting about it in the opening of The View.
Don, I think Holy Terror meant the typical, pro-ESCR soundbites as "PC," not the explanation from Dr. Oz.
When Christopher Reeve was fighting and saying he would walk again at the same time I was trying to get the effects of surgical mayhem that doctors said nothing could be done about fixed I noted to myself the similarity between his astrological nature and mine and considered him a kindred spirit. When he said "Oh, to be that rat" (the one whose spinal cord had been cut and now thanks to "stem cells" was walking again), I knew he was never going to get out of that wheelchair.
Please note I said similarity not identicality. Enough alike to be notable, not enough to be the same. And there's a big difference between necessary and required when it comes to testing on non-human animals.
Not to mention between necessary and desired.
By the way, what kind of impact did Christopher Reeve have on society's attitude toward the disabled? I never heard much talk about that at the time.
Bmmg39, maybe you are right on that. Thanks for pointing it out. That's a close call. I hope Holy Terror lets us know. You are right that the ESCR is
PC. It's good to see someone go against the PC soundbite on a show like Oprah. I suspect in 10 years we'll hear a "we were wrong" or "we overhyped it" about this after they've gotten their money and what they wanted, much like the "Dan Quayle was right" article after the PC crowd won the election.
Obama Assassinated Hope of Stem Cell Treatment in US (Exec Order 13505)by revoking research of non-embryonic stem cells & the prioritization of research with the greatest potential for clinical benefit.
http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/obama-assassinates-any-hope-of-stem-cell-treatments-in-us-with-exec-order-13505/
Exec Order 13435:
http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/executive-order-13435-expanding-approved-stem-cell-lines-in-ethically-responsible-ways/
Exec Order 13505:
http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/executive-order-13505-of-march-9-2009-removing-barriers-to-responsible-scientific-research-involving-human-stem-cells/
You CAN’T get stem cells in the US today even if they are from your own body. The FDA says you can only get drugs derived from stem cells. This typically takes 7-12 years & a ½ billion dollars, so…
Don’t hold your breath!
http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/03/27/fda-part-5-adult-stem-cells-are-a-drug/
Thanks to the Stem Cell Blog for the transcript.
Don Nelson, I did mean that ESCR is the PC- thing. Not Dr. Oz, who did a remarkable thing by saying that. (of course, he was sanitized and edited by the show afterward. I wonder if they'll cut that part for re-broadcasts, as well?)
Most scientists outside of a given field are too busy to keep up with stuff in other fields, and I daresay that many rely on popular ideas -- the "pc" ones -- instead of questioning them. Ah, that's true of most people, whatever profession.
Orah and Fox, need to report true statements. Oprah and Micheal J fox lied many times in this report. They make me so sick!
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