Suit to block embryonic stem cell research

[ROBERT A MARTONE <bmartone@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The challenges continue. There is a lot of hard work still
before us.


Subject: Suit to block embryonic stem cell research

Opponents Sue U.S. to Block Stem Cell Funding
Thu Mar 8 23:49:28 2001 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Opponents of medical research using
embryonic stem cells filed suit against U.S. health agencies
on Thursday to prevent federal funding of the experiments.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced last year
that it would fund studies using stem cells, which
scientists believe hold promise for treating a range of
diseases. Applications are due March 15.

Critics call the practice immoral because it involves taking
cells from human embryos. Under Clinton's guidelines, public
funding can pay for research but private parties must
harvest the cells from frozen embryos left over from
in-vitro fertilization.

Thomas Hungar, a plaintiffs' attorney, said that position
violated a ban on using public money for research in which
embryos are knowingly destroyed or discarded. Hungar also
said health officials "ignored or disregarded ... other
options for achieving important medical advances."

The plaintiffs include the Christian Medical Association;
Nightlight Christian Adoption, a nonprofit group that says
it enables people to adopt human embryos stored at fertility
clinics; and private individuals who want to adopt human
embryos for implantation. The suit was filed in Washington
against the NIH and the Department of Health and Human
Services.

President Bush said in January he opposed some stem-cell
research but did not say whether he would move to outlaw it.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said the
matter is under legal review.

Stem cells are early master cells that scientists believe
they can coax to develop into almost any other type of cell,
possibly yielding treatments for ailments such as diabetes
and spinal cord injuries.