FBI Says Starting Probe Into Fetal Tissue
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Reuters) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Kansas City, Missouri, has launched a probe into the marketing of fetal tissue, an FBI spokesman said on Friday.
``We are investigating possible criminal violations in the marketing of fetal tissue to determine if there is a violation of federal criminal law,'' FBI spokesman Jeff Lanza told Reuters.
He would not elaborate on the scope of the investigation or offer any further details.
On Thursday, members of a House Commerce subcommittee called on Attorney General Janet Reno to open an investigation into the selling of fetal tissue after a Kansas City-area pathologist was featured in an ABC News undercover report about the alleged selling of fetal body parts for profit.
The pathologist, Dr. Miles Jones, was recorded by a hidden camera discussing making thousands of dollars a week selling fetal parts.
Jones was subpoenaed to testify before the committee but did not appear and was held in contempt of Congress.
The Health and Environmental subcommittee is holding hearings to determine if laws restricting the methods and fees involved in fetal tissue harvesting are being broken.
Fetal tissue research is permitted because scientists believe it holds promise for treating a range of diseases. But its sale is strictly limited. Sellers only can recoup the cost of harvesting tissue and cannot turn a profit.
Because aborted fetuses are one source for the tissue, many fear selling of the tissue will encourage abortions.
A spokesman for the House committee said further doctors may be putting women's health at risk by changing abortion procedures to obtain better tissue.
http://www.house.gov/commerce_democrats/press/106st107.htm
Opening Statement of Hon. John D. Dingell
Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce
Markup of: H.R. 1089, Mutual Fund Tax Awareness Act of 1999;
H.R. 887, Requiring Disclosure of Charitable Contributions;
H.R. 1954, Rental Fairness Act of 1999;
Contempt report against Dr. Miles Jones
March 15, 2000
(snip)
With respect to the contempt report against Dr. Miles Jones, the Subcommittee on Health and Environment voted to unanimously to find Dr. Jones in contempt, and I agree with their decision. Dr. Jones recently made statements on the television show 20/20 that on their face suggest possible criminal activities in the procurement and sale of fetal tissue in violation of Federal law. This Committee issued a valid subpoena to Dr. Jones to appear before the Subcommittee as part of its investigation into this subject, and Dr. Jones has ignored it. Indeed, he has failed to even provide an explanation for his decision not to honor the subpoena. In 1993 this Committee wrote a law to ensure that important medical research involving fetal tissue could be conducted, while adhering to strict ethical guidelines. We remain committed to ensuring that the requirements of the law are followed. We are also committed to ensuring that a subpoena to testify before the Committee is not ignored. Therefore, I expect the vote on this matter to be unanimous.