A rchive Date
[ 11-05-2002 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Canada ]
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[http://canoe.ca/Health0205/09_cloning-cp.html
Reproductive law tabled
By CAMILLE BAINS - Canadian Press
May 9, 2002
OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government introduced a bill Thursday that would ban human cloning but allow research on embryonic stem cells - a move already under fire inside and outside the House of Commons.
The proposed law on new reproductive and genetic technologies would allow use of embryonic cells under conditions set by a new regulatory agency, the Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada. The bill would ban payment to surrogate mothers, sperm donors or egg donors, but would permit them to be compensated for expenses.
It would not provide any arrangement for children born through donor insemination to learn the identity of their biological parents, something that thousands of donor-insemination offspring have been pressing for. Scientists wishing to use embryonic cells would be required to apply for access to embryos created at fertility clinics but no longer needed by the couples for whom they were produced.
Scientists say embryonic stem cells can be used to generate virtually any tissue in the human body, and that they could hold the key to new treatments for a wide variety of diseases.
Critics of embryonic research say it is ethically wrong because an embryo, even if only days old, is a human being entitled to protection of the law. They say research should instead focus on stem cells obtained from adults. Scientists say adult stem cells don't have nearly the same kind of power and versatility.
The bill would regulate other reproductive technology, including a ban on human cloning. "The main purposes of this legislation is, one, to protect the infertile community," Health Minister Anne McLellan said after introducing the bill.
"It is to prohibit certain activities that I think Canadian society believe to be unacceptable, for example human cloning."
Reproductive cloning is the creation of humans through genetic technology or the creation of animal-human hybrids.
The government has been grappling with the complex legal and moral issues raised by new genetic technologies for more than 10 years.
A royal commission on new reproductive technologies that delivered its report in 1993 recommended a ban on research involving human embryos.
Former health minister Allan Rock brought in legislation in 1997 but it died when an election was called.
CNEWS Poll
Should scientists have access to extra embryos created at fertility clinics?
Total Votes for this Question: 3540
So far, 54% have voted for Yes
So far, 42% have voted for No
So far, 3% have voted for Don't Care
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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