Stem cells

Today I visited a stem cell research hospital, seeking to understand an experimental treatment that a few foreigners are currently testing out. Given that these treatments are experimental, there's a degree of risk involved, that I think everyone is aware of. They problem is that these patients really have no other alternative.

It was an amazing facility, on the south-east side of Beijing. It's rather difficult to find, located in an alley, off of an already-small road. The couple we met were an elderly pair from Florida. The thing about them that made the largest impression on me was their sense of optimism and humor that they carried around at all times.

An interesting tidbit that I learned today, though. We asked about the source for the stem cells being used in these treatments. It turns out they're embryonic stem cells, which likely explains why no one in the US is trying these new types of treatment. At best, US hospitals and research facilities might invest in these overseas facilities. The justification that these patients use is the fact that China's one child policy can almost be seen as encouraging abortions...