Dems challenge allegations against UNM (NM -Univ. buys fetal parts for research)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | July 14, 2016 | Michael Coleman

[CedarDave]

WASHINGTON – U.S. House Democrats are pushing back against a Tennessee Republican’s request that Attorney General Hector Balderas consider criminal charges stemming from fetal tissue research at the University of New Mexico, while House Republicans renewed allegations Thursday that fetal tissue researchers and abortion clinics are also breaking federal law.

Last month, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., chairwoman of the House Select Committee on Infant Lives, wrote a letter to Balderas asking him to investigate whether the University of New Mexico and an Albuquerque abortion provider broke a state law when they transferred aborted fetuses for research.

This week, Democrats on the panel, led by Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, fired back at Blackburn in a letter to Balderas, denying any wrongdoing by the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and Southwestern Women’s Options, an Albuquerque abortion provider.

Blackburn on Thursday released an 88-page “interim” report on the overall controversy with the Republican majority’s findings. Transferring or selling fetal tissue for profit is against federal law, but costs of the transfer can be recouped.

Tara Shaver of Protest ABQ said in a written statement. “Democrats who believe that it’s okay to kill a baby in the womb up to the day of birth and then use their body parts for experimental research are the ones who have taken an extreme position.”

[CedarDave]

New Mexico, and Albuquerque in particular, is one of the few states that allows late-term abortions. As such, the fetal parts are more fully developed and desirable for testing and research. UNM apparently pays "transfer" fees to acquire fetal tissue for its research. It's a despicable practice, but one that is allowed to continue under local and state regulations supported by the Democratic majorities in the city and state Senate.

[CedarDave]

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[GOPJ]

Tons of dead baby parts are being ‘used’... there’s not way legitimate researchers are using TONS of dead babies.

Something doesn’t add up here.

[CedarDave]

Not sure where you find the reference to the volume (tons) of baby parts you mention. It’s not in the story. Is it in the Blackburn report?

[jch10]

Tons? Where does it say that?