Dr. Don Minkler, a retired obstetrician
with early Alzheimer's disease, 
argues for government funding of 
embryonic stem cell research
July 27, 2001

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Dr. Don Minkler, a retired obstetrician and public health specialist, has early Alzheimer's disease, impairing his memory and ability to find words. With the help of his wife, Betsy (who refers to herself as his "memory and speech partner"), he explained his position on embryonic stem cell research funding: "It's no longer about science, it's about politics. When I was a Harvard Medical student in the 1940s, teaching about birth control wasn't allowed - so we had to rent a hotel room off campus where we had lessons in birth control. Of course, in spite of government and church bans, birth control research and teaching went on, to the great benefit of the world. This ban on embryonic stem cell research funding is the same suppression of science and information. For me, not letting the science go on robs me of hope, and hope is what I live for. The government bickering about stem cell research goes on and on while people like me need any chance for something to slow this disease down. It hurts me so much when I see what my wife has to do for me every day. Embryonic stem cell research is not about killing embryos, because they're not embryos that will ever be brought to term. It's about giving hope and life back to people like me and Betsy."