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Judge Dismisses Suit Against Stem Cell Research

Decision means federal work can continue with embryonic stem cells

By the Associated Press

Posted Jul 27, 2011 1:22 PM CDT

(AP) – A lawsuit that had threatened to end the Obama administration's funding of embryonic stem cell research was thrown out today, allowing the US to continue supporting a search for cures to deadly diseases over protests that the work relies on destroyed human embryos. The lawsuit claimed that research funded by the National Institutes of Health violated the 1996 Dickey-Wicker law that prohibits taxpayer financing for work that harms an embryo. But the administration policy allows research on embryos that were culled long ago through private funding.

US District Judge Royce Lamberth last year said the lawsuit was likely to succeed and ordered a stop to the research while the case continued. But responding to a swift protest from the Obama administration, the US Circuit Court of Appeals here quickly overturned Lamberth's injunction and said the case was likely to fail. Lamberth said in his opinion today that he is bound by the higher court's analysis and ruled in favor of the administration.

In this 2008 file photo, a researchers pulls a frozen vial of human embryonic stem cells at the University of Michigan Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor.
In this 2008 file photo, a researchers pulls a frozen vial of human embryonic stem cells at the University of Michigan Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 22 comments
truesoy
Jul 28, 2011 9:03 AM CDT
I don't think it would be nice to describe conservatives as a 'confused bunch', but they do argue on behalf of ignorance at times; for example, back in the days when the earth was 'flat' this same type of mentality wouldn't let anyone say otherwise, and when science proved the earth was not the center of the universe, the conservatives of the era motivated by religious believes would throw your a__ in prison. All these things because of the fear instilled on society by religion. For organized religion ignorance and the fear of the unknown (that they, organized religion, claims to know) is a blessing, because then they can manipulate the individual, not only to irrational behaviour, but to give up his money as well, for the benefit of the church. Has anyone noticed how religious groups are mostly conservatives? and how they oppose 'government spending' in social programs, while  promoting the idea of giving it to 'charity' (church) instead?. While there is nothing wrong to giving to charity, it wouldn't be right to do it at the expense of government programs because these programs contribute to the general welfare of society and not just to a selected few within a congregation. Lets compare a public education, paid for by the collective financial effort of society (taxes), it offers everyone, poor or rich, the opportunity of an education at no additional cost. On the other hand a church (organized religion) takes your money (average 10%, though some people give a lot more) and with it they build schools, some of higher education, where the children of the 'contributors' can't afford to attend because is 'priced out of their reach'. What a deal, eh!!!. etc, etc, etc, and I could go on, and on. And while conservatives don't see anything wrong with this, they rally against public education (the one probably educating their children and/or themselves. Ps.- and before I get accused of being atheist, be advised that I am not. But I recognize the fact that religion is man made and no one person knows more than another what God is and/or is not. Religion is a human attempt at defining God, that's it. And remember this, if it was up to religion the earth would be the center of the universe, still!.
HappyHabenero
Jul 27, 2011 9:47 PM CDT
why yes..it's those big rich corporations that are involved in funding the bulk of the stem cell research so they can make a profit off the results...where is the cry to tax them to death...oh wait   they are doing research on something liberals have taken up as a cause...nevermind ..pass 
JOHNSPEAKS
Jul 27, 2011 7:28 PM CDT
-You- liberals slaughter millions of children with abortions and now you slaughter millions of potential children with embryo research what is next for -You- liberal killers???

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