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At 06:55 2001/05/30 -0700, Murray Charters wrote: >05/29/2001=A0-=A0Updated=A010:02 PM=A0ET >PHOTO: Christopher Reeve and seven scientists are > suing the government over stem cell research. (By Robert Deutsch, >USA TODAY) >Scientists, Reeve sue government over stem cells >WASHINGTON (AP) =97 Seven scientists and actor Christopher >Reeve have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Bush administration >of illegally withholding funding for stem cell research. > >In the suit, they say the administration is doing "irreparable >harm" by delaying the creation of therapies they believe could >save lives. > >The Bush administration, which has halted all funding and >ordered a review of the issue, now has less than 60 days to >respond to the lawsuit. > >"We are not suggesting that the administration should begin >funding projects immediately," plaintiffs' attorney Jeffrey Martin >said Tuesday. > >"We just want the process to move forward quickly, and with >consideration of existing laws. We do not want delay because of >politics." > >Reeve, who played Superman in four movies, has been an active >voice for stem cell research since a horse-riding accident left him >paralyzed. > >The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in Washington, claims that >Bush officials have skipped over administrative procedures >necessary to halt research that federal statutes have made legal. > >Last year, the National Institutes of Health passed guidelines >that allow federal funding of some research involving stem cells, >which many scientists believe have the potential to help repair >injured or deteriorating organs. > >The issue of federal funding for the research is especially >sensitive because it sometimes involves experimentation with >embryonic stem cells. > >Those cells are derived from leftover embryos destined to be >discarded after test-tube fertilization. Some ethicists and abortion >opponents say it is wrong to use them for research, because >it could encourage the creation of embryos for science. > >Stem cell experiments on animals have shown promising results, >but there is no conclusive evidence of the potential benefits of >stem cell therapies on humans. > >The lawsuit makes bold claims that, by delaying stem cell >research, the Bush administration is "preventing or delaying >the advent of a cure for paralysis, Parkinson's Disease, diabetes >and other debilitating conditions." > >"There is, in essence, a moratorium that is delaying the funding," >Martin said. > >In one of his first actions as president, Bush asked U.S. >Department of Health and Human Sciences Secretary Tommy >Thompson to review the guidelines of funding for stem cell >research. That process includes the creation of a review board, >which, as of late last week, has never met. > >The lawsuit could force health officials to explain where they >are in the review process. > >"This is great because it will hopefully embarrass the Bush >administration into action," said researcher Tim Dale of the >Malen Clinic in New York. "At the very least it will make them >explain themselves." > >Among the plaintiffs are James Thompson of the Wisconsin >Regional Primate Research Center, Roger Pedersen of the >University of California, John Gearhart of Johns Hopkins >University, Douglas Melton of Harvard University, Dan Kaufman >of the University of Wisconsin, and Alan Osborne Trounson and >Martin Pera, both of Monash Medical Centre in Australia. > >Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. > >http://www.usatoday.com/news/near.htm ddouble yyowsa!! janet paterson: an akinetic rigid subtype, albeit perky, parky . pd: 54/41/37 cd: 54/44/43 tel: 613 256 8340 email: [log in to unmask] . snail mail: 375 Country Street, Apt 301, Almonte, Ontario, Canada, K0A 1A0 . a new voice: the nnnewsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/janet313/ . a new voice: the wwweb site: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn