Politics
Tuesday February 14, 2006
UK Fertility Authority Proposes Allowing Egg Donation as Embryonic Stem Cell Source
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By Terry Vanderheyden
LONDON, February 14, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A UK fertility authority is pondering a proposed measure that would allow women to donate eggs to be used to grow human embryos for embryonic stem cell research purposes.
The Human Fertility and Embryology Authority will decide Wednesday whether to allow so-called “altruistic” egg donations. It already allows women the option to donate “spare” embryos that result from in-vitro fertilization. The new measure would allow women to undergo drug-induced production of multiple eggs, followed by surgical extraction, outside of IVF treatment.
The use of medications to stimulate egg production can result in dangerous side effects, including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which can cause kidney damage or death. The hormones used can also lead to fertility problems.
Pro-life charity Life spokesman Michaela O'Sullivan, told the BBC, “It is disgraceful that the HFEA is to entice women to undergo invasive and risky operations in order to facilitate experimental research that offers no immediate hope of cures.”
To date, there is virtually no evidence that embryonic stem cells have any efficacy for the treatment of disease. Adult stem cells meanwhile have been used for breakthroughs in the treatment of a wide and growing range of diseases.
Stem cell scientist, Dr. Peter Hollands, told LifeSiteNews.com he disagrees with those who contend there is a great need to continue study of embryonic stem cells. “We should focus our attention on the most readily available and usable type of cells and these are adult and umbilical cord stem cells,” he argued. “Embryonic stem cells at present are largely political rhetoric and scientific hype. Adult and umbilical cord blood stem cells are proven and ready to use. The public needs to know this.”
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Canadian Stem Cell Expert Speaks Out on Adult vs. Embryo Stem Cell Research
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/nov/03112001.html
Embryonic Stem Cell Therapies to Cure Disease is “Pure Folly”, Says MIT Prof
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/dec/05121209.html
See LifeSiteNews feature "Stem Cell News and Resources" at:
http://www.lifesite.net/features/stemcellembryo/
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