The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill has just completed its passage through the House of Lords and will be debated in the House of Commons in the next few weeks.
There are amendments to the Bill which would limit embryo research, recognise the need for children to have knowledge of their biological father, and which would reduce rather than increase the numbers of abortions. The Bill even allows the creation of animal and human hybrid embryos for research.
However the Labour Government will not allow its MPs in the House of Commons a free vote on matters relating to the Bill other than in relation to abortion.
If you are a British citizen, you can sign a petition on-line requesting that the Government allow all its members a free vote on all matters in the Bill which have caused great concern.
Here, you can sign the petition.
Stem cell research holds a great deal of promise in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. There are several different sources of stem cells, but the best chance of defeating debilitating illnesses like Parkinson's Disease will only come if the medical research community has the widest possible range of tools at its disposal. This Bill helps with that.
ReplyDeleteThe ethically right thing to do is to work to reduce the suffering of the elderly and others with diseases that may one day be treatable. Invoking works of fiction from the horror genre is extremely unhelpful when thousands of people will die waiting for the treatments that this Bill could make possible.