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A fact from Ira Black appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 21 August 2009 (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:
Did you know... that neuroscientistIra Black expressed frustration with U.S. federal restrictions on stem cell research, as it could lead to therapies that would "get patients out of bed and out of wheelchairs"?
Can anyone cite an actual federal ban or restriction on stem cell research? I am pretty up on the R&D matter, but am willing to (and would actually want to) change my view in the face of a fact. The only thing that has been done by the government is to restrict federal funding for certain types of stem cell research. There are no bans. There are no restrictions. (that I know of) If Wikipedia is to champion the NPOV, it should not allow the opinions of those who oppose the restrictions on federal funding of certain types of stem cell research to overstate the facts.
While Dr. Black may make statements that his research that would "get patients out of bed and out of wheelchairs", and it is appropriate to quote him on this, this is an obviously biased statement meant to overstate the potential of the research. Unless stem cell research turns out to be fundamentally different than any other types of medical research, it will take decades to develop treatments that will start out helping a small number of people. From the NPOV standpoint, should we balance this accurately quoted statement by Dr. Black with a reference to the actual performance trends of medical R&D? ... perhaps a reference to an Wikipedia article or external resource on medical research from the WHO, AMA, etc.?
June1969 (talk) 12:04, 21 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]
