Judge's ruling sets back stem cell research

 

Talk about judicial activism. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth just ruled that the federal government can't fund any stem cell research because it destroys embryos. He voided not just President Obama's stem cell policy, but former President George W. Bush's policy, too.

Lamberth relied on a reading of the Dickey-Wicker Amendment, which forbids federal funding of "research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed." The anti-abortion community is ecstatic, but the ruling goes far further than even Bush's policies on stem cells. Bush approved federal funding of research on stem cell lines that existed by August 2001. It's unlikely that even this policy would be allowed under Lamberth's reasoning.

The Obama administration is already planning an appeal, as it should. Congress could, and should, easily clarify things by simply passing a stem cell funding bill. That would eliminate the need to go through the courts, and the bill would be unlikely to encounter a presidential veto this time around.

In the meantime, the scientific community is frustrated and confused. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine will be able to press on with its embryonic stem cell research, thanks to the wisdom of California's voters. But it means the institute's scientists won't be able to collaborate with those whose funding was dependent on federal grants.

Congress should move quickly to ensure that this potentially valuable research can continue.

Judge's ruling sets back stem cell research

I am totally against this judge. I believe in stem cell research. There are so many  illnesses out there that would benefit  from such a practice. I am a person  with Multiple Sclerosis I would benefit from this kind of research. I do not think it is  fair  that people can put a halt on such of an important matter. I do not think it is  fair to have the ability  to use stem cell research and people have the right to take that away. What gives people the right to interfere with such an important issue.

Are these people so selfish? It seem so to me. I  think  those who are against  stem cell research obviously has never had an illness or a disease that  could be  cured by such a technique. I  do hope as time passes by  we will be able to perform stem cell research, and cure  so many  diseases that haunt the world today.