NOTE TO STUDENTS:  Before you answer the questions, read the "Background" below explaining the difference between ADULT STEM CELLS and EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS.

1.  Where do doctors get the adult stem cells they use in their treatments?

2.  For what types of treatment do doctors use adult stem cells?

3.  Under the new Texas rules, what requirements must doctors meet when using adult stem cells?

4.  What problem do doctors have with obtaining FDA approval?

5.  a) Two college professors are quoted by the reporter for this article.  For what reasons do they oppose the use of adult stem cells?
b)  What do you think: are can and might good enough reasons for all experimental treatment using adult stem cells to be halted?  Explain your answer.

6.  The majority of news articles about stem cell treatments support the use of embryonic stem cells.  
a)  Do you think this reporter presents an unbiased report [not favoring one side or the other] on the Texas Medical Board's decision to allow doctors to use experimental treatments using adult stem cells? Explain your answer.
b)  Ask a parent the same question.

7.  Consider the following:

• Adult stem cells have been successfully used to treat many diseases (read "Background" and see link under "Resources" below).  Does the article present the positive results of adult stem cell treatment strongly enough?
• Would most/some doctors be willing to use experimental adult stem cell treatment on a patient if he/she thought it would endanger a patient and result in a lawsuit?
• Are most doctors incompetent and greedy, willing to risk the life and/or health of their patients just to make money?
• In paragraph 8, the reporter states that adult stem-cell procedures also have been controversial...because they cost thousands of dollars.  [Most medical procedures cost thousands of dollars.]
• Articles about embryonic stem cells rarely include the word controversial.  Most of the articles on Texas' adult stem cell ruling include the word controversial, and focus on adult stem cell procedures as being "unproven, expensive treatments"
• Is the FDA as a federal government agency better able to establish rules for stem cell treatment in Texas than the Texas Medical Board is?
• The same experts who oppose the use of adult stem cells for being unproven support the use of embryonic stem cells without reservation.
• Is it wrong to be opposed to embryonic stem-cell research on the ground that it can destroy human embryos?

Do your answers/thoughts about these points cause you to re-think your initial reaction to this article on the Texas Medical Board's decision?  Explain your answer.