http://www.sltrib.com/07222001/utah/115829.htm
Sunday, July 22, 2001
Utah Sen. Bob Bennett said Friday
he will support federal funding of some types of embryonic stem cell research.
The Frist principles are available
on the Internet at: http://www.senate.gov/~frist/Press_Center/news_Re-leases/01-144/Stem_Cell_Research_Standards/stem_cell_research_standards.html.
BY JIM WOOLF
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
The Republican joins about 70 other
members of the Senate in urging President Bush to approve research using
human embryos created in a laboratory through an in vitro fertilization
process. The National Institutes of Health this week issued a report saying
these cells offer hope of treating heart disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's
disease, Alzheimer's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (better known as Lou
Gehrig's disease), cancer and diabetes.
The proposal is controversial because
anti-abortion groups believe it is immoral to use these fertilized embryos
for research.
Bennett said the issue has personal
importance to him because one of his daughters used in vitro fertilization
in an attempt to have additional children.
"From her experience, I have learned
that all embryos are not 'created equal'," he said. "Some are healthy enough
to have a chance of survival and some are not.
"Our daughter's doctors were able
to determine, in advance of implantation, which embryos were healthy enough
to survive. Those that were not were discarded. She believes, as do I,
that it would be wonderful if these nonviable embryos could be used to
give hope to others suffering from life-threatening diseases rather than
cast aside as useless."
Bennett said federal funding should
be restricted to those studies done under "careful ethical and procedural
guidelines."
He endorsed the 10 principles for
stem cell research offered Thursday by Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist, who is
a Republican and a physician. Those policies include such things as a ban
on using embryos created only for research and calls for a "rigorous informed
consent process" so parents understand the potential uses of their embryos.
Bennett's announcement means that
all five U.S. senators who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints support federal funding for stem cell research.
The church has not taken a position
on the idea, except to say "it merits cautious scrutiny."
Bush said Thursday his decision
on whether to allow federal funding of this research will be made on moral
grounds rather than public opinion. "This is way beyond politics," he said.
"This is an issue that speaks to morality and science and the juxtaposition
of both."
Bennett said there now appears to
be enough votes in the Senate to override a presidential veto if Bush were
to try to block such research.