From: GBurch1@aol.com
Date: Thu May 31 2001 - 06:06:44 MDT
>From The AP,
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010529/pl/stem_cell_lawsuit_1.html
-
Tuesday May 29 8:15 PM ET
Government Sued Over Stem Cells
By CHRISTOPHER NEWTON, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Seven scientists and actor Christopher Reeve have
filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Bush administration of illegally
withholding funding for stem cell research.
In the suit, they say the administration is doing ``irreparable harm''
by delaying the creation of therapies they believe could save lives.
The Bush administration, which has halted all funding and ordered a
review of the issue, now has less than 60 days to respond to the
lawsuit.
``We are not suggesting that the administration should begin funding
projects immediately,'' plaintiffs' attorney Jeffrey Martin said
Tuesday. ``We just want the process to move forward quickly, and with
consideration of existing laws. We do not want delay because of
politics.''
Reeve, who played Superman in four movies, has been an active voice
for stem cell research since a horse-riding accident left him
paralyzed.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in Washington, claims that Bush
officials have skipped over administrative procedures necessary to
halt research that federal statutes have made legal.
Last year, the National Institutes of Health (news - web sites) passed
guidelines that allow federal funding of some research involving stem
cells, which many scientists believe have the potential to help repair
injured or deteriorating organs.
The issue of federal funding for the research is especially sensitive
because it sometimes involves experimentation with embryonic stem
cells.
Those cells are derived from leftover embryos destined to be discarded
after test-tube fertilization. Some ethicists and abortion opponents
say it is wrong to use them for research, because it could encourage
the creation of embryos for science.
Stem cell experiments on animals have shown promising results, but
there is no conclusive evidence of the potential benefits of stem cell
therapies on humans.
The lawsuit makes bold claims that, by delaying stem cell research,
the Bush administration is ``preventing or delaying the advent of a
cure for paralysis, Parkinson's Disease, diabetes and other
debilitating conditions.''
``There is, in essence, a moratorium that is delaying the funding,''
Martin said.
In one of his first actions as president, Bush asked U.S. Department
of Health and Human Sciences Secretary Tommy Thompson to review the
guidelines of funding for stem cell research. That process includes
the creation of a review board, which, as of late last week, has never
met.
The lawsuit could force health officials to explain where they are in
the review process.
``This is great because it will hopefully embarrass the Bush
administration into action,'' said researcher Tim Dale of the Malen
Clinic in New York. ``At the very least it will make them explain
themselves.''
Among the plaintiffs are James Thompson of the Wisconsin Regional
Primate Research Center, Roger Pedersen of the University of
California, John Gearhart of Johns Hopkins University, Douglas Melton
of Harvard University, Dan Kaufman of the University of Wisconsin, and
Alan Osborne Trounson and Martin Pera, both of Monash Medical Centre
in Australia.
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