COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 11 /-USNewswire/ -- Focus on the Family Action Senior Analyst for Bioethics Carrie Gordon Earll issued the following statement today in response to the House of Representatives passing HR 3, which would repeal the restriction on additional federal funding for destructive embryonic stem-cell research:
"This vote is an example of politics trumping both morality and science. It's never morally acceptable to destroy human life in research. In the history of medical experiments, some of the worst things imaginable have been done with the best of intentions. If a medical experiment purposefully threatens or destroys a human life, something is wrong with the experiment. In a civilized society, we must demand more. And thankfully, in the case of stem- cell research, we have ethical alternatives that are just as good -- perhaps better -- than the unethical ones.
"The House members who voted today to repeal the current federal-funding policy should ask bill sponsors to show them the evidence to back up their claim that destroying embryos is essential to find cures. Consider this: Adult stem cells have been used in more than one thousand human clinical trials and currently treat more than 70 conditions. Compare that to embryonic stem cells, which are not being used in any human trials and have not produced a single treatment or cure.
"House proponents of destructive embryonic stem-cell research failed to gain a veto-proof majority to override the promised presidential veto. They may gain political points by repeatedly bringing up this bill, but, based on current research, science has already left them behind. These folks don't have a scientific leg to stand on; all they have is a political ax to grind against President Bush and others who won't accept destroying young humans for suspect research."
James C. Dobson, Ph.D. is a psychologist, author, radio broadcaster and founder of Focus on the Family Action. Founded in 2004, Focus on the Family Action is an action organization dedicated to the preservation of the moral and cultural values upon which the nation was founded.
CONTACT: Nima Reza of Focus on the Family Action, +1-719-548-4570, or culturalissues@focusaction.org
