OPINION | Obama’s Embryonic Stem Research Proposal ‘Not Bold Enough,’ New York Times Editorial Says
[April 23, 2009]

Although the Obama administration's announcement of draft guidelines for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research "is a significant improvement" over former President George W. Bush's more restrictive policy, the new proposal "is not bold enough and will continue to deny federal financing to some potentially promising research," a New York Times editorial states. The Times reports that Obama’s proposal would allow federal funding "only on stem cell lines created from surplus embryos at fertility clinics but not on lines created in the laboratory to study particular diseases." Still, unlike Bush's restrictions, Obama's proposal would allow federally financed researchers to study embryonic stem cell lines that might be created in the future, the editorial says. In addition, it could "significantly expand the number of past lines that can be studied with federal dollars to include some of the hundreds that have been created around the world from surplus embryos," according to the editorial.

It continues that the new guidelines propose "rigorous eligibility standards," including that individuals who wish to donate surplus embryos from fertility treatments be informed of all disposal options, that written consent is obtained separately from donors' decision to create the embryos and that donors are permitted to withdraw consent before the embryos are used. These requirements are "widely accepted today," but "they could rule out research on lines derived in the past under less stringent codes, including many created at leading universities or even those approved under Mr. Bush," according to the editorial. "Officials will need to pay close attention to this potential problem before issuing final guidelines," the editorial says. The editorial also notes that the National Academy of Sciences and other scientific organizations have endorsed research using lab-created embryos to genetically match treatments for patients with certain diseases, such as diabetes or Parkinson’s. The guidelines would prohibit such research, known as "therapeutic cloning," although scientists have not yet successfully produced such embryos.

"The guidelines seem likely to increase the amount of embryonic stem cell research supported by the government without triggering a political backlash," the editorial says, concluding, "But given the potential value of the science, it is disappointing that the NIH didn't go further" (New York Times, 4/23).





The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.

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