BACK STEMCELL 6'?m3f Abortion, death penalty, stem cell research (scene: podium and table with several chairs) (all characters wear business suits) AMY -- (enters, sits at table) LIZ -- (enters, crosses to podium, pounds gavel) The committee on medical ethics will come to order. We will now resume testimony on this issue of human stem cell research. Our next witness will be (reads) Katherine McConnell. (looks around) Katherine McConnell. (looks around) Katherine McConnell. (pauses) Well, according to the rules, we'll proceed to the next name on the list. Is (reads) Amy Johnson here? (sits at table) AMY -- Yes. (steps up to podium with folded piece of paper, holds it high) I had several things to say about the morality of research using stem cells from human beings. But the other speakers very eloquently pointed out that extracting stem cells from living human fetuses causes the death of a human being. So, I will limit my comments to the NECESSITY of using stem cells from human fetuses. Stem cell research is not new. It has been carried on for years using stem cells from umbilical cords, human placentas and bone marrow. The fact is, there is no shortage of human stem cells. LIZ -- Then why are we even considering the use of stem cells from human fetuses? AMY -- The only reason I can see for going after fetal stem cells is to give the sagging abortion industry a boost in business. LIZ -- So it would appear. AMY -- That's all I have to say. Thank you to the medical ethics committee. (sits) LIZ -- (steps up to podium) Okay. That was the last of the testimonies on the issue of human fetal stem cell research. This committee will now hear testimony on the feasibility of mandatory organ donations by death row inmates. The first spokesman on the witness list is (reads) Katherine McConnell. (looks around) Katherine McConnell. (looks around) Katherine McConnell. (pauses) Well, according to the rules,... (looks down at list) KAT -- (enters hurriedly through audience crosses to podium) I'm sorry I'm late. My car had a flat tire on the way here. My apologies to the medical ethics committee for any inconvenience. LIZ -- Katherine McConnell? KAT -- Yes. I'm not to late, am I? LIZ -- Ah, no, we had not called our next witness as yet. (points to podium, backs away) The podium is all yours. KAT -- (steps up to podium, digs into briefcase pulls out two file folders) Thank you. And my sincere thanks to the medical ethics committee for allowing me to testify about this important issue. (holds one folder in each hand, looks back and forth at each twice, drops one, opens the other) Yes, well, where do I begin? I don't think I have to remind the committee how important these organs and tissues are to the recipients and that countless lives could be saved by harvesting them. LIZ -- Excuse me, but your testimony today seems to be a reversal from the stand your organization previously took on this issue. KAT -- (scans file folder) No. Our stand is clear. Not only will these tissues and organs save lives, but, these tissues and organs will just go to waste anyway, the donors will die anyway. Why waste a perfectly good resource? LIZ -- Weren't you quoted last week as calling this proposed donation (reads) "a barbaric procedure"? And didn't you say that (reads) "no civilized society should take a life to save a life"? KAT -- No. I was talking there about mandatory organ donations from death row inmates. LIZ -- That's what we're talking about here. KAT -- (pause) Oh. I... Oh. (closes file folder, opens other folder) I'm sorry. I... Well, of course, we're still opposed to mandatory organ donations from death row inmates. LIZ -- But you support mandatory tissue and organ donations from unborn babies? KAT -- Well, of course. LIZ -- Aren't you being inconsistent? KAT -- (opens and examines both folders) I don't think so. We oppose capital punishment. If we supported mandatory organ donations during capital punishment, we would be supporting capital punishment. LIZ -- Let me get this straight. You support the taking of organs that will kill an innocent unborn child, but you oppose the same treatment for someone who is guilty of murder. KAT -- Yes. I suppose... if you want to use those words... LIZ -- Use your own words. KAT -- We oppose government support of the taking of a human life unless he's innocent. No. Let me rephrase that. We support the mandatory tissue and organ donations if and only if the individual has no lawyer and is incapable of defending itself... No. Let me rephrase that. We don't support the taking of human life. LIZ -- A fetus is a human life. KAT -- No it's not! LIZ -- A fetus meets all the criteria for both life and humanity. It is alive, that is, it metabolizes, it grows, and if allowed to mature, it would reproduce. And its DNA contains all the characteristics of an adult human: Her hair color, the cleft in her chin, the freckles on her face, even her temperament are all predetermined at conception. That constitutes both life and humanity, doesn't it? KAT -- Well, if you want to use those words. LIZ -- Use your own words. KAT -- All I know is that the government sponsored killing of a human being by the taking of his tissues and organs is barbaric. LIZ -- So, to be consistent you would have to oppose mandatory organ donations from death row inmates AND from unborn babies. KAT -- Absolutely not! We want a woman to be the only person in society to be able to kill a baby, as long as it's her own baby. If human fetal research will make that more popular, it's fine with us! Thank you. (exits) LIZ -- (steps up to podium) Okay, our next witness is (reads) Amy Johnson. (sits) AMY -- (steps up to podium) I was merely going to remind the committee that any decision we make on medical ethics should be CONSISTENT. But I think the previous witness has made my case better than I could. Thank you. (exits) LIZ -- (steps up to podium) This committee meeting is adjourned. (pounds gavel, exits) ©2013 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.bobsnook.org email: [email protected] BACK |