Brown Town
We need more leaders like Willie Brown who know how to stand up for their members and face down the powerful corporate leaders and their political tools like Rendell and Nutter ["The Man Who Brought Philadelphia to its Knees," Jeffrey C. Billman and Isaiah Thompson, Nov. 19]. Congratulations, Willie Brown and TWU Local 234.
It is not so much as stem cells being thwarted by legal red tape, and road blocks at the FDA level, it is more that these blocks to curing diseases — and the potential shown already of adult stem cells to heal diseases — is costing many lives waiting for the cure ["Medical Tourist," Julia Harte, Nov. 19].
It is also obvious that the drug companies have a stranglehold on politicians who are not seeing the urgency of ASC research within the United States. When there are cures to these disease the USA will be left far behind advancements in modern cures; instead it remains in a system that favors prolonging sickness and death.
If readers want to help this incredibly intelligent and productive human being to reach yet another goal in his life, they should explore his Web site, rockysfight.com. How could the editors not include this information in the article? Isn't it time we all stop standing around and do what this man has done his whole life ... make a difference.
I am in what is considered "end stage" COPD. My doctor wants me to have a lung transplant which will cost my insurance company and myself over $1 million between the surgery and drugs needed post-transplant. I would think letting people have the opportunity for trying using their own stem cells would make more sense.
We follow the FDA and let people die, or let organizations like the ICMS educate so that patients can make informed decisions.