Posted on 10/19/2011 2:11:44 PM PDT by NYer
Scientists in Britain face being barred from developing life-saving treatments after a court ruled it is ‘immoral’ to use embryos to produce stem cells.
The European Court of Justice has decreed that patenting any treatment using the cells is ‘commercial exploitation’ and ‘contrary to morality’.
Scientists warned the ‘devastating decision’ will stop pioneering treatments for degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s being developed in the UK, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the multi-million pound biotechnology industry.
But pro-life groups, who argue it is immoral to experiment with embryos to advance medicine, welcomed the ruling.
The decision, made unanimously by 13 judges in Luxembourg, follows a case brought by Greenpeace in Germany against Professor Oliver Brüstle at the University of Bonn.
Professor Brüstle filed a patent with the German government in 1997 to convert embryonic stem cells into nerve cells to help patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Greenpeace challenged it and the case went to the highest court in Germany and then Luxembourg.
The resulting 10-page judgement prohibits patenting any process which involves removing a stem cell from and then destroying a ‘human embryo’ – defined as anything ‘capable of commencing the process of development of a human being.’
It states: ‘Patents may not be granted for inventions whose commercial exploitation would be contrary to morality... In particular patents shall not be awarded for uses of human embryos for industrial or commercial purpose.’
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
You didn’t hijack the thread at all, as noted above. You gave many of us an opportunity to offer our love and that is the only important thing in life.
salad. chicken. salad, beans, and salad, and then a little salad.
About akin to San Francisco banning “gay pride” parades, and ruling “gay marriage” immoral.
Someone’s found a life-saving approach using embryonic stem cells?
That is big news.
Have you SEEN the price of arugula these days?
Hey, if the last salad wasn't filling enough, I have another one......the world's largest salad....just for you!
It is surprising but they got it right.
That liberal lie is sure dying hard.
That’s just nasty! LOL!
“Their headline is misleading. Such treatments don’t exist.”
I was thinking the same thing. Of course, even if embryonic sc treatments did help people, it would be wrong, but as it happens embryonic stem cells make patients worse, as they cause tumors, etc..
“life-saving? Is there one documented case where embryonic stem cells saved a life?”
Nope, it’s only the ADULT stem cells that have helped people:
‘Oz seemed to stun both Winfrey and Fox by asserting that ”the stem cell debate is dead.” Since embryonic stem cells are hard to control and can even lead to cancer, Oz said adult stem cells hold the most promise. Further, Oz said he believes researchers are within 10 years of making major breakthroughs using adult stem cells.”’
excerpted from http://online.worldmag.com/2009/04/07/stem-cell-claim-shocks-oprah/
Dear Mr. Breyer: Stick that in your foreign decision stare decisis pipe and smoke it.
Heh heh. :-)
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