Independent: Hawking criticises EU states trying to ban stem cell researc

[unhappycamper]

Hawking criticises EU states trying to ban stem cell research
By Steve Connor, Science Editor, and Stephen Castle in Brussels
Published: 24 July 2006


Stephen Hawking, the world's best-known living scientist, has attacked "reactionary" forces in Europe and America which are trying to ban research into stem cells from human embryos.

Professor Hawking, who suffers from motor neurone disease, has criticised President George Bush and European governments who want to stop the funding of research with embryonic stem cells, which promises to revolutionise the treatment of many incurable conditions.

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President Bush and some religious authorities, notably the Catholic Church, argue that the microscopic, four-day-old embryos from which stem cells are derived are potential human lives. They believe it is immoral to take stem cells from any human embryo even for the purpose of saving lives because the process involves the destruction of embryos.

But Professor Hawking dismissed these objections, saying that banning stem cells from human embryos is equivalent to opposing the use of donated organs from dead people.

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[wakeme2008]

1. Very good way of putting it

"opposing the use of donated organs from dead people."

[ima_sinnic]

2. "... the embryos are going to die anyway ..."

"The fact that the cells may come from embryos is not an objection because the embryos are going to die anyway," he said. "It is morally equivalent to taking a heart transplant from a victim of a car accident."

What do the boneheads say about that?

[lindisfarne]

3. Why Hawking's opinion is relevant is beyond me - he's not a biologist.

While I agree with his opinion, there are far more competent scientists in relevant fields who should be contacted for statements.

[MasonJar]

4. Maybe he can be helped; if I were in his shoes with his credentials

I'd be speaking out.