Politics
Tuesday February 14, 2006
UK Fertility Authority Proposes Allowing Egg Donation as Embryonic Stem Cell Source
TODAY'S HEADLINES
E-MAIL
PRINT
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/
Back to TopLatest Headlines
- BREAKING: US Congress Passes Health Care Reform Bill 220 to 215
- Stupak Amendment to Health Care Bill Passes 240 - 194 Saturday Evening
- Major Health Care Development - Pro-Life Stupak Amendment Vote OK'd for Today
- NY Times: Dems Banking on Later Squeezing Pro-Life Language Out of Bill in Committee
- USCCB Spokesman: "Definitely Not True" that Bishops Support Bill As it Stands
- TIME Got it Wrong - Prof. George Opposed Grandiose Kennedy Funeral
- USCCB Condemnation Tears Facade off "Phony" Abortion Compromise for Health Bill
- Health Care Bill Includes Monthly Abortion Premium: House Minority Leader Boehner
- TIME Article Setting Burke Against O'Malley Called "Tactical strike" on Behalf of Catholic Left
- Dirty Fighting on Abortion Funding: Word-Games and Health-Care Theatrics Boggle the Mind
- Commentary on November 6 News
- Note to LifeSiteNews Subscribers with Rogers email addresses
- New York Gov. Declares Nov. 10 Extraordinary Legislative Session for Same-Sex "Marriage"
- Washington's Pro-Family Amendment Effort Defeated - R-71 Almost Certain to Pass
- Vote Pushed Back on Canadian Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Bill to Dec. 2
- Elderly U.K. Couple in Good Health Commit Suicide, Complain of Assisted Suicide Law
- Texas Late-Term Abortionist and Baptist Minister Admits: "Am I killing? Yes, I am"
- New Evidence Contradicts CCHD's Findings on Accused Pro-Abortion Partner
- Quebec Priest Denies Possibility of Sexual Reorientation Therapy on TV
- New Hampshire Same-Sex "Marriage" Law in Crosshairs after Maine's Law Crumbles
- Brooklyn Bishop Criticized for Recorded Message Praising Pro-Abortion Politician
- First Group of "Traditionalist" Anglicans in Britain Votes to Enter Catholic Church
Most Read this Week
- Planned Parenthood Director Resigns after Watching Ultrasound of Abortion Procedure
- Nun Defiant Following Rebuke, but Stops Abortion Escorting
- Breaking: Dominican Community Apologizes for Nun Caught Acting as Abortion Escort
- Over 200 Christendom College Students Protest Abortion at Planned Parenthood Clinic
- TIME Article Setting Burke Against O'Malley Called "Tactical strike" on Behalf of Catholics Left
- Scottish Gay Rights Activists Found Guilty of Pedophilia Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
- Newly Identified Corporate Supporters of Planned Parenthood Named
- Health Care Bill Includes Monthly Abortion Premium: House Minority Leader Boehner
- Major Health Care Bill Development - Stupak Hyde Amendment Vote OK'd
- Canadian MP Launches Petition to Stop Federal Funding of Planned Parenthood
MORE NEWS: 
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page Last 10 Days Archives Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.