INDIA: Cloning Ban Confined to Reproduction

[Murray Charters <mcharters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Indian Cloning Ban Confined to Reproduction

Betterhumans Staff

[Thursday, February 20, 2003] India's position on cloning is anything
but identical to most countries: While complete bans seem likely
around the world, India favours cloning for therapy while banning it
for reproduction.

Cloning research aimed at producing genetically identical human
beings will be prohibited in India due to questions about safety,
success, utility and ethical acceptability, an Indian minister told
Parliament in New Delhi yesterday.

Minister for Health Sushma Swaraj said that India's Central Ethics
Committee on Human Research of the Indian Council of Medical Research
has developed ethical guidelines that have been accepted and will be
circulated amongst relevant scientific institutions.

But therapeutic cloning aimed at providing compatible cells, tissues
and organs for treatment is still favoured by President A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam, a noted scientist.

This Saturday, Kalam made his position clear while addressing
students in Mumbia. "Human cloning should not be done," he said.
"However, cloning of important organs like liver and heart could be
beneficial.'



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