By Dave Andrusko

Editor's note. Please send your comments to daveandrusko@gmail.com. They are much appreciated.

Given where it showed up, had the March 31 program aired one day later, your first impulse would have been this must be an April Fool's joke. An announcement that actually paid attention to the science, rather than bowed down to ideology, was made on, of all places, "Oprah."

Dr. Mehmet Oz, an "Oprah" regular I gather, announces that there will be a cure for Parkinson's disease within "our lifetime" and "a big impact in the lives of Parkinson's disease, but also diabetics, heart attacks victims, people who have had a lot of problems" within "single-digit years."

(left to right) Dr. Mehmet Oz, Michael J. Fox, and Oprah Winfrey.

Sitting between Dr. Oz and Oprah is actor Michael J. Fox, a victim of Parkinson's. Fox's crusade on behalf of using embryonic stem cells (ESC) has not exactly been leavened with kind comments about those of us who oppose ESC on ethical grounds (it's indefensible) and pragmatic grounds (there are better alternatives).

So had you missed the first few minutes you would have expected another pep talk about why ESC is the answer. Not so.

Holding the brain of a 50-year-old man to illustrate his points, Oz gave a quick and helpful overview of the human brain and the underlying problem for people with Parkinson's. (It's associated with a decline in the production of the brain chemical dopamine.)

Then, in fine professorial form, Oz illustrated the theory behind the use of embryonic stem cells by poking a needle through a section of the brain where the ESCs would theoretically be injected. While nice in theory, in practice ESCs are (my words) like unruly adolescents who run every which way including in the direction of causing cancers.

What Oz then says is, "Now, I'm going to say something that's going to be a bit provocative. I think, Oprah, the stem cell debate is dead, and I'll tell you why."

Turns out there is an orderly and productive alternative. Oz prefaces his explanation by exclaiming enthusiastically that there have been a "huge amount of change made," the equivalent of "ten years" worth of advancement in the last year.

He never calls the primary change by its real name--iPS (induced pluripotent stem) cells--something we have talked about umpteen times in this space. Instead he shows it.

Taking Fox's hand, Oz says, "Here's what the deal is. I can take a little bit of your skin, take those cells, get them to go back in time [into becoming iPS cells] so they are like they were when you were first made, and then they will start to make that dopamine; and I think those cells, because they won't be as prone to cancer, and because they're your genes, will be the ones that are ultimately used to cure Parkinson's." (His emphasis.)

As mentioned above Oz tells Fox and Oprah there will be "a big impact in the lives of Parkinson's disease, but also diabetics, heart attacks victims, people who have had a lot of problems" and a cure "in our lifetime." He adds, "And that's exciting to all of us in medicine."

But it ought to be exciting to anyone who values truth, honesty, and candor. What can someone with those commitments take away from Dr. Oz's explanation?

That is time to dip into the tool case and go full bore with what is working--iPS cells and stem cells from adult stem sources--and junk the rest.

I had a lot of problems linking directly to the video on Oprah=E 2s site (www.oprah.com/media/20090319-tows-dr-oz-brain). A better source is www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDFJOzu9SyM.