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How ironic that this ruling comes from a Reagan-nominated judge, given that Nancy Reagan is such a supporter of ESCR. Kathleen On 24 August 2010 03:31, Nic Marais <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Judge stops federal funding of embryonic stem cell research > By *the CNN Wire Staff* > *STORY HIGHLIGHTS* > > - *NEW:* No word on possible government appeal as the lawsuit proceeds > - A judge rules government guidelines go against the will of Congress > - Embryonic stem cell research involves destroying embryos, the judge > says > - Congress prohibits federal funding for research that destroys embryos > > *Washington (CNN)* -- A U.S. district judge granted a preliminary > injunction > Monday to stop federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that he said > destroys embryos, ruling it went against the will of Congress. > > The ruling by Judge Royce C. Lamberth was a blow to the Obama > administration, which last year issued guidelines to allow federal funding > for embryonic stem cell research. > > Lamberth's ruling said all embryonic stem cell research involves destroying > embryos, which violates the Dickey-Wicker Amendment included in federal > spending bills. > > "The Dickey-Wicker Amendment unambiguously prohibits the use of federal > funds for all research in which a human embryo is destroyed," said the > ruling by Lamberth, who was nominated to the federal bench by > then-President > Ronald Reagan in 1987. "It is not limited to prohibit federal funding of > only the 'piece of research' in which an embryo is destroyed. Thus, if ESC > [embryonic stem cell] research is research in which an embryo is destroyed, > the guidelines, by funding ESC research, violate the Dickey-Wicker > Amendment." > > President Barack Obama signed an executive order in March 2009 that > repealed > a Bush-era policy limiting federal dollars for human stem cell research. > Obama's act permitted the National Institutes of Health to conduct and fund > studies on embryonic stem cells. > > Monday's ruling involved a lawsuit against the National Health Institute > filed by researchers opposed to use of embryonic stem cells, a group that > seeks adoptive parents for human embryos created through in vitro > fertilization, the non-profit Christian Medical Association and others. > > The ruling stops the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research while > the lawsuit proceeds through the legal system. The government can appeal > the > injunction, and a Justice Department spokeswoman, Tracy Schmaler, said the > decision was being reviewed. > > The field of embryonic stem cells has been highly controversial because the > research process involves destroying the embryo, typically four or five > days > old, after removing stem cells. These cells are then blank and can become > any cell in the body. > > Embryonic stem cell research differs from other kinds of stem cell > research, > which don't require embryos. > > Some scientists believe embryonic stem cells could help treat many diseases > and disabilities, because of their potential to develop into many different > cell types in the body. > > While some advocates praised the executive order as a giant step forward > for > medical research, conservatives groups objected, contending that the > destruction of human embryos ends human life. > > Ron Stoddart, executive director of Nightlight Christian Adoptions -- one > of > the groups that filed the lawsuit -- said he supported adult stem cell > research that doesn't require destroying embryos. > > "Frequently people will say why are you opposed to stem cell research and > of > course are answer is, we're not," Stoddart said. "We're opposed to the > destruction of the embryos to get embryo stem cells." > > In a statement Monday, the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical > Research > said it was disappointed by the injunction granted "in response to the > latest maneuver by an ideologically driven fringe group." > > "We have full confidence that the extensive, deliberative process that > shaped federal guidelines now in place will be upheld upon further review," > the group's statement said. > > *CNN's Shelby Lin Erdman contributed to this story.* > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto: > [log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn