Good egg story

by YankeeJim | August 23, 2010 at 02:54 pm

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Privatize embryonic stem cell research

It is all about public funding. If embryonic stem cell research leads to life-saving medical solutions as predicted, then large medical research and production companies will pursue the market with or without government funding. So long as the government stays out of private sector research, then the private sector can pursue the avenue to its heart’s content.

The issue of harvesting stem cells from embryos that are a few weeks old may be some sort of a moral issue, but separation of church and state prevents impeding in private sector ventures, doesn’t it?

“Judge stops federal funding of embryonic stem cell research
By the CNN Wire Staff

August 23, 2010 5:53 p.m. EDT

Last year, the Obama administration issued guidelines to allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: Justice Department says it is reviewing the decision

Judge rules government guidelines go against the will of Congress

Embryonic stem cell research involves destroying embryos, judge says

Congress prohibits federal funding for research that destroys embryos

Washington (CNN) -- A U.S. district judge granted a preliminary injunction Monday to stop federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that he said destroys embryos, ruling it went against the will of Congress.

The ruling by Judge Royce C. Lamberth was a blow to the Obama administration, which last year issued guidelines to allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Lamberth's ruling said all embryonic stem cell research involves destroying embryos, which violates the Dickey-Wicker Amendment included in federal spending bills.

"The Dickey-Wicker Amendment unambiguously prohibits the use of federal funds for all research in which a human embryo is destroyed," Lamberth's ruling said. "It is not limited to prohibit federal funding of only the 'piece of research' in which an embryo is destroyed. Thus, if ESC [embryonic stem cell] research is research in which an embryo is destroyed, the guidelines, by funding ESC research, violate the Dickey-Wicker Amendment."

The Justice Department was reviewing the decision, spokesperson Tracy Schmaler said.

The field of embryonic stem cells has been highly controversial because the research process involves destroying the embryo, typically four or five days old, after removing stem cells. These cells are then blank and can become any cell in the body.

President Barack Obama signed an executive order in March 2009 that repealed a Bush-era policy limiting federal dollars for human stem cell research. Obama's act permitted the National Institutes of Health to conduct and fund studies on embryonic stem cells.”