Stem Cells and Exploiting Women

[YankeyMCC]

Hello, I am sincerely not clear on this issue and just want to ask a question.

We here in MA are having a little drama over Stem Cells, the overwhelmingly Dem legislature has submitted a bill supporting Stem Cell research like in CA. But our rethug gov is opposed.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/05/12/romney_urges_changes_to_stem_cell_bill/

As stated in the article, one of the issues is the possible exploitation of women caused by paying them for the eggs.

I can understand the issue to the point that we don't want to create a new class of people who have to sell body parts to make a living. In this case eggs. But is it really exploitive to pay a woman for her time and discomfort? Shouldn't people be able to sell what belongs to them as long as they are informed and there are regulations in place to protect them from unfair practices?

Just trying to understand.

[MARALE]

1. I guess I liken it to blood giving or plasma

eggs are replenishable and plentiful like plasma or blood. I know quite a few friends that got a few extra bucks for selling plasma when I was in the service. It really can't be compared to selling a part of the body that can't be replenished, like a kidney. It is harmless if you have rules like they do for plasma. IMHO

[lukasahero]

2. Because he's a republican

The real issue he has with the bill is the line that defines the beginning of life. He's using this "think of the poor women" line because it's more palatable. It's spin.

[YankeyMCC]

4. Most likely true but

I have heard women raise the issue of exploitation as well.

[FloridaPat]

3. Women sell their bodies all the time. Thanks for the defense of

prostitution. Amazing how when women get paid for something like this it's exploiting them.

[RobinA]

5. My Only Concern

about this egg-selling practice, in fact, anything the involves stimulating egg production, including various infertility treatments, is that women be adequately informed that this could have serious health risks, including ovarian cancer, for the future. You give blood, you give blood, but woman need to understand that taking hormone treatments to cause the body to produce the many eggs required for harvesting is NOT a benign procedure. I'm not sure this is appropriately explained.