Ban on state financing of work with ESCs: is the investigation over?
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Embryonic Stem Cell Case
This is reported on the website of the Association of Medical Colleges of America (AAMC Calls Supreme Court Decision Good News for Patients – VM). The plaintiffs demanded that amendments to the legislation allowing state organizations to finance research related to the study of hESC be declared illegal.
Two American scientists studying adult stem cells filed a lawsuit against the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2009 demanding to ban funding for embryonic stem cell research. In their opinion, the work on the study of hESC is unethical, since during the experiments the destruction of embryos occurs. (For more information about the history of this lawsuit, see here – VM.)
Scientists were forced to go to court by the order of American President Barack Obama to mitigate the Dickey-Wicker amendment adopted 17 years ago. According to the amendment, state organizations had no right to finance research during which embryos were destroyed. After the legislation was relaxed, the NIH issued guidance documents regulating work with hESC.
The plaintiffs managed to win the first trial, which took place in August 2010. According to the court's decision, the National Institutes of Health was temporarily banned from funding embryonic stem cell research. The defendants subsequently appealed the decision and it was overturned.
The plaintiffs, in turn, appealed against the lifting of the ban, but during the next meeting, the Court of Appeal upheld its previous decision. This did not stop the scientists who appealed to the US Supreme Court.
By refusing to consider this case, the highest court actually upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal, which gave state organizations the right to finance research related to hESC.
Scientists researching embryonic stem cells warmly welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. The Association of Medical Colleges of America was also pleased with him. "Embryonic stem cell research is conducted in accordance with strict ethical standards and has a huge potential in finding treatment for various serious diseases. We hope that now, after removing all legislative, regulatory and legal barriers, it will be possible to study hESC," said Darrell Kirch, MD, President of the Association.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru11.01.2013