cnn/Judge stops federal funding of embryonic stem cell research

[twa]

A U.S. district judge granted a preliminary injunction Monday to stop federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that he said destroys embryos, ruling it went against the will of Congress.

The ruling by Judge Royce C. Lamberth was a blow to the Obama administration, which last year issued guidelines to allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Lamberth's ruling said all embryonic stem cell research involves destroying embryos, which violates the Dickey-Wicker Amendment included in federal spending bills.

"The Dickey-Wicker Amendment unambiguously prohibits the use of federal funds for all research in which a human embryo is destroyed," Lamberth's ruling said. "It is not limited to prohibit federal funding of only the 'piece of research' in which an embryo is destroyed. Thus, if ESC [embryonic stem cell] research is research in which an embryo is destroyed, the guidelines, by funding ESC research, violate the Dickey-Wicker Amendment."

The Justice Department was reviewing the decision, spokesperson Tracy Schmaler said.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/23/stem.cell.funding/

[Riggo-toni]

While that sucks, the judge was following the law, and I recall someone posting an article here back when Obama "lifted the ban" that he (and everyone else) knew it wouldn't stand.

[TradeTheBeal!]

Fine with me.

[Elessar78]

How is this "activist judge" allowed to do this!—seems ludicrous when the shoe is on the other foot, huh?

[twa]

Interesting tidbit I missed...a appeals court found embryos have standing???

http://www.acslaw.org/node/16777

Lamberth initially dismissed a suit by the same plaintiffs in October, holding that "embryos lack standing because they are not persons under the law" and the unborn have no right to life protected under the Constitution's 14th Amendment, Bloomberg reported at the time.

The Court of Appeals overturned the standing decision and remanded the case to Lamberth.

added

no standing for embyos, two researchers were found to have standing

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/health/policy/24stem.html?pagewanted=2

[twa]

in the no duh category

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/24/stem.cell.funding/

The Obama administration will appeal a federal judge's decision to temporarily block federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, Justice Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed Tuesday.

An appeal is expected to be filed later this week asking the court to lift the injunction ordered Monday, according to Miller.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth was a blow to the Obama administration, which last year issued guidelines to allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

[Beans]

Legality aside, stem cell research is definitely worth undertaking. Untapped potential--for profit and groundbreaking medical discoveries makes this something for the powers that be to consider.

[twa]

Legality aside, stem cell research is definitely worth undertaking. Untapped potential--for profit and groundbreaking medical discoveries makes this something for the powers that be to consider.

It certainly shows promise, though with induced pluripotent cells the embryotic lines seem a bit redundant.:2drunks:

[frostyj]

Here is a thought, why don't we do the research on the thousands of embryo's that are destroyed each day by fertility clinics??

Where is the uproar for the clinics mass murders?

Im all for the research, and there is a way to do it which satisfies both sides.(see above)

[fullnelson9999]

How is this "activist judge" allowed to do this!—seems ludicrous when the shoe is on the other foot, huh?

I've been waiting for a situation like this to present itself. Hypocrisy indeed.

[twa]

How is this "activist judge" allowed to do this!—seems ludicrous when the shoe is on the other foot, huh?

Well the clear language and intent of the law makes that label a bit of a reach.

laws can be inconvenient at times.

[Thiebear]

How dare these judges interpret the laws written by Congress and come to conclusions!

They should be golfing and visiting New Orleans to stimulate the economy.

MY 2cents: has nothing to do with reality.

I'm as Anti-Abortion as they come, but frozen fishsticks are not people.

Cryogenically frozen rich waiting for a cure for whatever they have (are not people).

Two people having sex and then shock and awe: an embryo is formed in a womb = baby (choice #1). (woohoo people)

If you want to hit the Outrage button, try not to hit it so often that people fail to notice it as significant

[/2cents]

[December90]

A good and proper ruling.

This issue is NOT the stem cell research.

The issue is FEDERAL FUNDING for stem cell research.

If private companies or private individuals want to fund the research they are free to do so. (if they think it will produce something great then there should be ample incentive for private investment)

[TimmySmith]

If private companies or private individuals want to fund the research they are free to do so. (if they think it will produce something great then there should be ample incentive for private investment)

This is a much overlooked statement. If embryonic stemcells were truly the Holy Grail, then private industry would have jumped on the research (which is not restricted in any way). They haven't. The fact is that the science really is strong in mice but not in humans.