The US Government is appealing a court ruling made on the 23 August 2010 which temporarily prevents Government funding of embryonic stem cell research.
Judge Lamberth stated that ‘embryonic stem cell research is clearly research in which an embryo is destroyed.’ Destroying an embryo conflicts with a 1996 law, the Dickey-Wicker amendment, which bars the use of government funds for ‘research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed.’ Judge Lamberth’s ruling was seen as a success for Pro-Life campaigners.
Steven Aden from the Alliance Defense Fund commented:
‘The American people should not be forced to pay for experiments prohibited by federal law that destroy human life. The court is simply enforcing an existing law passed by Congress that prevents Americans from paying another penny for needless research on human embryos.’
However, the Justice Department has appealed to suspend the temporary ban. Tracy Schmaler, a Justice Department spokeswoman, said:
‘The government is seeking a stay of the court’s injunction to prevent the irreparable human and financial harm that could occur if these life-saving research projects are forced to abruptly shut down.’
The Government say they will present their request to the Court of Appeals if the ban is not lifted by the 7th of September 2010.
These recent developments continue the ongoing debate in America regarding embryonic stem cell research. During President Bush’s administration, funding from the National Institutes of Health was prohibited for all human embryonic stem cell lines created after 9 August 2001. In March 2009 President Obama overturned this restriction.
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