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NIH Draft Guidelines
NIH released its proposed "ethical guidelines" for human embryonic stem cell research on April 23, 2009, and provided 30 days for the public to comment. The deadline is May 26, 2009. As with the Conscience Protection Rule, despite the fact that we are facing hostile forces in the federal government, it is important for the CMA and all members as individuals to convey our critiques of and objections to this policy. To provide comment directly to NIH, write to - (NIH Stem Cell Guidelines, MSC 7997, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-7997, http://nihoerextra.nih.gov/stem_cells/add.htm). For information from USCCB about the different kinds of action you can take, go to http://nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=272.
CMA made three essential points in its critique (available here):
- Federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research is unethical in nature and unnecessary, given advances in alternative methods (adult stem cells and iPSCs);
- While the new guidelines appear to establish some limits (providing only funding for human embryos "left over" from A.R.T.), in fact the guidelines actually encourage donation of embryos for research by making donation one of several equal options that couples can consider;
- A much clearer policy statement is needed stating that the government will never fund or support the creation of human embryos for research.
