U.S. Propels Cloning Ban
Reported November 16, 2004
(Ivanhoe Newswire) –A United Nations General Assembly panel will vote this Friday, Nov. 19, on an anti-cloning treaty put forward by the United States and Costa Rica. This comes after three weeks of failed talks to prevent a U.N. confrontation over the United States-led drive to ban all human embryo cloning — including stem cell cloning (therapeutic cloning) or similar research. All U.N. members agree on a treaty of some sort, but the conflict is over whether to ban all forms of human cloning.
A group of countries led by Belgium opposes the all-encompassing cloning ban treaty and has instead suggested the committee adopt instead a declaration of principle. Individual governments would make their own policy decisions regarding cloning and its research.
Many scientists say therapeutic cloning could help find cures for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and spinal cord damage.
Bernard Siegel, a Florida attorney who is organizing a global drive to defend therapeutic cloning, says, “We have to listen to our scientists, listen to our physicians and by all means listen to the millions of people that are suffering with diseases.” He adds: Eventually, this science will advance. I think the question is: How many millions of lives might we lose? How much suffering will take place before we find the true benefits of this research?”
In opposition, the Bush administration says therapeutic cloning is the taking of human life.
SOURCE: Interview with Bernard Siegel
