Senators Introduce Bipartisan
Cloning Bill
February 7, 2003 - Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah),
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Edward
Kennedy (D-Mass.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and Zell Miller (D-Ga.)
re-introduced legislation Feb. 5 to ban human reproductive
cloning but to allow somatic cell nuclear transplantation
(SCNT), sometimes called "therapeutic cloning,"
to move ahead with federal oversight.
The "Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Protection Act
of 2003" (S.
303), makes it a crime, punishable by up to 10 years in
prison and fines of $1 million or three times any profits
made, whichever is greater, on any person who clones or attempts
to clone a human being. The bill permits nuclear transplantation
to be conducted on unfertilized eggs for up to 14 days, under
strict ethical and federal regulation. The bill requires that
all egg donations be voluntary, prohibits large payments to
women to induce egg donations, and prohibits the purchase
or sale of unfertilized eggs, including eggs that have undergone
nuclear transplantation. The bill also requires informed consent
by egg donors, review of any nuclear transplantation research
by an ethics board and safety, and mandates privacy protections.
The exportation of eggs that have undergone nuclear transplantation
to any foreign country that does not ban human cloning also
is prohibited.
The AAMC has endorsed S. 303. In a Jan. 15 letter
(PDF, 1 page - 58KB) to Senator Hatch, AAMC President
Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., stated, "We recognize the significant
ethical issues that are raised about embryonic stem cell research
and we respect the view of those who oppose such research,
including some in our own medical school community. However,
we are persuaded otherwise by what we believe is an equally
compelling ethical consideration, namely, the unique potential
afforded by embryonic stem cells, to alleviate human suffering
and enhance the quality of human life."
Information:
Dave Moore, Senior Associate Vice President
AAMC Government Relations
dbmoore@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
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