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Scientists confirm fears over carbon-copy babies
Westminster, 30 August, 2000--A survey of medical scientists has confirmed pro-life activists' fears that cloned human babies will become a reality in the near future.
Most respondents to the survey, published in today's Independent,
agreed that the introduction of cloning for spare body-parts would mean
that cloning for reproductive purposes would follow shortly.
Paul Tully, general secretary of the Society for the Protection
of Unborn Children, said: "Once you allow cloning techniques to be
conducted to generate embryos in the laboratory, someone will want to
bring a clone to birth. This shows the Donaldson committee's glossy
report-welcomed by the Government last week-to be a fiasco. The
proposal to allow research into human cloning to go ahead, but to ban
the birth of cloned babies, appears in the light of this survey to be
an elaborate sham."
In May, SPUC had said: "Despite current assurances from
scientists that such cloning is not on the agenda, it would be
impossible to prevent all proliferation of technology to less
scrupulous countries and individuals. Many complications and problems
would then result." (press release, 16 May 2000)
Mr. Tully went on to say: "This survey demonstrates the
contempt that the pro-cloning scientists and politicians have for
public opinion. They know that public opinion, both domestic and
international, is strongly opposed to human cloning and they are trying
to soften it up. All forms of human cloning involve undermining human
dignity and are unacceptable. We are equally opposed to cloning for
research and other purposes, but this survey confirms our fears about
the intentions of scientists. Reproductive cloning could have
disturbing effects on the whole of society."
SPUC has called for the withdrawal of the British Government's acceptance of the Donaldson report which recommends that human cloning be allowed. It will be writing to opposition MPs to brief them on the government's legislative intentions on cloning.
