People United to save the Lives of Single-cell Entities (PULSE) wants Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter to pass legislation that will protect the lives of Strep bacteria, and make them off limits to antibiotic medications often prescribed by doctors to combat the infection.
Every year Boulder residents are set upon by an outbreak of Strep Throat, which is an infection of the mucus membranes. Strep, also called Streptococci, is typically associated with a sore throat and fever.
We want to protect living, feeling microorganisms, in this case the Streptococci bacteria, in a way that is humane and just—ensuring that they (the bacteria) don't suffer needlessly at the hands of misinformed or ignorant doctors.
According to PULSE, bacteria and other microorganisms are intelligent creatures that feel pain.
"Recent studies indicate the presence of sentience, and possibly even intelligence in microorganisms," PULSE representative Margo Lancing said. "A couple of hundred years ago blacks were allowed to be beaten and killed while white people thought of them as less than human and incapable of feeling true pain. Today, even though racism and bigotry are still present, no one would dare say that blacks don't feel pain. Within the next decade I am certain that science will prove that bacteria, viruses germs and other single cell organisms are far more advanced along the evolutionary path than is currently believed. We must act now to stop a holocaust among the microorganism community, or their blood will be on our hands."
When asked to comment on Ms. Lansing's statements, Francis Horning MD PHD, and active member of SAG said, "There are a number of types of Streptococci bacteria and it is short sighted for people to think we know all about them, or any other microorganism for that matter. The genus Streptococcus alone is comprised of a wide variety of both pathogenic and commensal gram-positive bacteria found in a wide range of hosts, including humans, horses, pigs and cows. Why, the pathogenic streptococci of man alone include S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, and S. faecalis. There have even been studies with advanced audio equipment claiming to have heard subsonic frequencies as microorganisms are being attacked by modern antibiotic medication. Some in the field believe these "sounds" might correlate to the screams of the dying microorganisms. Certainly I am not suggesting that these particular claims are in fact accurate, however I do believe there is enough question so as to give us pause before we indiscriminately murder billions of possibly intelligent life forms. As any right thinking person will attest, it is always better to err on the side of life."
The governor, who recovered from a slight case of Strep Throat last winter, by the use of antibiotic medication, forwarded the arguments made by PULSE to the Chief Medical Examiner of the state for a response.
