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Editorial
Clash of
the sentiments or reason: The cloning debate in the U.S. Senate.
Wednesday, 15 May 2002
Science and religion, centuries-old rivals, are about to clash in the cushioned
chambers of the U.S. Senate later this week. What is expected to be an
emotional debate the Senators are going for the final round to decide
whether or not cloning of human cells of any kind will be allowed in the
United States.
Most
of the 100 senators are not experts in neither science nor religion, but
they will have to make a choice between the hope for scientific and medical
breakthroughs and values impregnated by inapt religious beliefs. Reports
that cloning has been attempted in other places, both for reproductive and
therapeutic purposes, give the Senate debate a sense of urgency.
Unfortunately, with only a few notable exceptions, the competing sides in
the US debate have been lined up pretty much as on the abortion issue.
Still, at least three outcomes are possible in the Senate:
1) A bill banning both reproductive and therapeutic cloning passes and
is sent to the White House, where Bush happily
signs it and cloning opponents celebrate victory.
2) A bill allowing only therapeutic cloning passes the Senate, but efforts
to resolve differences with the more restrictive House measure prove
fruitless. Even if Congress did pass a bill allowing therapeutic cloning,
many analysts think, Bush would veto it.
3) One side loses an early skirmish during the debate and then launches a
filibuster that keeps lawmakers from coming to a final vote on the issue.
With these prospects at hand, the medical research community, the public
who want relief from many severe ailments, and even ethicists discussing
the necessity of legal groundwork surrounding cloning work on human cells,
should worry.
In a bad situation, you will not have any cloning at all – but an outright
ban!
In an even worse outcome – stalemate of a decision – you are up for the possibility
that all kinds of "Frankenstein’s Monsters" will use the
situation and try to create other "Frankenstein’s
Monsters"!
Let’s hope that
there is some sense in the US Senators, so that a sensible decision will be
reached.
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