Stem Cell Research Unjustifiable - ACDP

Cheryllyn Dudley MP - ACDP


African Christian Democratic Party MP and Health spokesperson, Cheryllyn
Dudley said today that the ACDP is disappointed and concerned about US
President, George W Bush's decision to provide federal funding for stem
cell research.

Mrs Dudley said, "Stem cell research is morally repugnant and
unjustifiable. The fact is that this research, purported to be the
answer to diseases like Cancer, Diabetes, Alzheimer's and Leukaemia, can
be done without the use of embryo's as these cells are found in adult
fatty tissue".

Mrs Dudley highlighted a particular concern about President Bush's
statement that only 'discarded embryos' would be used. She said, "This
is a misleading statement as it does not exonerate his government just
because the killing of embryos has already been done. The fact is that
these federal funds will profit private companies which have killed
these human lives and that are now selling their remains on the market.
Even though President Bush is not condoning the killing, he is certainly
rewarding it".

Mrs Dudley said, "Double standards seem to be the order of the day,
especially in light of the question which has been asked as to whether
or not President Bush would have allowed federal funding for experiments
using cells derived from Nazi death camp victims at the time of their
annihilation, simply because the victims were already dead. In South
Africa we still debate the issue of when life begins, internationally
this is no longer a debate, as scientists know that life begins at
conception, there is therefore no difference."

In 1998 the ACDP submitted a Private Members Bill with regard to the
prohibition of human cloning in SA. This bill was rejected on the
grounds that the issue was dealt with in the draft National Health Bill
which, to date, has not been tabled in Parliament.

The ACDP calls on Government to urgently reassess the need for a
separate bill prohibiting human cloning and the use of embryo's for stem
cell research in South Africa.


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For more information please call Cheryllyn Dudley MP at 0828906520 or
ACDP Media Liaison Liza Lambert at 0824781037