23/08/2000 Announcement by British Panel on human cloning a medical horror story. Doctors For Life (DFL) is shocked by the announcement by a British panel, that the cloning of human embryos be allowed for research purposes. There are very strong moral/ethical reasons to refrain from proceeding with human cloning. First and foremost, the development of this technology will require the deliberate sacrifice of human embryos. We believe this to be immoral. The use of human life merely as a means to an end is morally unacceptable. We look upon the inherent value of all human beings, regardless of their abilities and attributes, as the cornerstone of legal and social relationships. It protects each one of us impartially, embodying the belief that all are equal. It guarantees the treatment of all patients in an equal manner. Another moral concern is the question of the timing and significance of ensoulment. There is no specific point in the development of the human embryo, which more clearly indicates the beginning of the life of a human being, than the point of conception. In the light of these facts the panel is actually suggesting experimentation on human beings and not "potential" human beings. The fact that they propose that the cloned embryos not be allowed to grow past the 14 day stage offers no comfort. With this decision the panel has crossed the line to the "slippery slope" of allowing full scale human cloning. It marks the beginning of eugenics. There are ample scientific reasons to oppose the full scale cloning of human beings such as the potential for mutation, transmission of mitochondrial diseases, and the negative effects from the aging genetic material. There are also societal reasons to be hesitant about human cloning such as questions about parentage, lineage, family structure and the uniqueness of the individual. Therefore, we believe that human cloning should not be pursued given our current understanding and knowledge. We affirm the need for continued moral scrutiny as research on animal cloning proceeds and proposals for the application of this technology to humans are advanced. DFL is an organisation of about 800 doctors, specialists and professors of medicine from various medical faculties across South Africa and abroad. For more information contact: Prof. Hennie Cronje at (051) 405-3444 |
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