LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Replace NIH director now

OPINION:

Imagine my horror and disgust at learning that the present director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, a holdover for some reason from the Obama administration, has designed and administers a diabolical scheme to incentivize the destruction of human embryos (“Seeking pro-life leadership at the National Institutes of Health,” Web, Sept. 19). The incentive is hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. In fact, this destruction of human embryos has cost us more than $1 billion taxpayer dollars.

And yet, Dr. Collins has ignored what has proved to actually provide real help to patients: adult stem cells. President Trump and Congress, please replace this Obama leftover with someone who places ethics and science over antiquated, discredited and, worst of all, unethical methods of research. Appoint a new director to the NIH now.

Thanks so much to The Washington Times for the very informative and well-written piece by Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana and David Prentice of the Charlotte Lozier Institute alerting the public to this disgraceful program. I am reminded every day of why I love your newspaper.

ANN SCHUTT

Beltsville