Thursday, April 12, 2007

Why The Senate Stem Cell Bill Leaves Me Scratching My Head

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, Sec. 498D. (b)(2), states:

Human embryonic stem cells shall be eligible for use in any research conducted or supported by the Secretary if the cells...

Prior to the consideration of embryo donation and through consultation with the individuals seeking fertility treatment, it was determined that the embryos would never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded.

Sec. 498E. states:

(a) The Secretary shall conduct and support basic and applied research to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, or testing of stem cells that, like embryonic stem cells, are capable of producing all or almost all of the cell types of the developing body and may result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions, but are not derived from a human embryo.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any policy, guideline, or regulation regarding embryonic stem cell research, human cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer, or any other research not specifically authorized by this section.

So what does this all mean?

The way I read it, it says that 1) the embryos would not have been used and would have been thrown away, and 2) the bill does not condone or prohibit any sort of cloning and allows for that to be dealt with through other legislation.

What I don't understand, and what leaves me scratching my head, is why pro-lifers are so up-in-arms about the bill. If the embryos are going to be thrown out and destroyed anyway, doesn't it make sense that they would at least be put to good use?

They aren't destroying life to save life. They are using life that would have been destroyed to save life.



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