Halfway on Stem Cells

Political leaders ought to be careful to maintain ethical boundaries when they endorse stem cell research, but Governor Romney goes too far when he seeks to forbid work on embryos expressly created to seek cures for diseases. The Massachusetts Legislature should side with Senate President Robert Travaglini, who wants to put the state on record as supporting this important work.

Both Romney and Travaglini would forbid financial compensation to obtain embryos used in research. Both would forbid human reproductive cloning. Both would establish a review board to set ethical guidelines for research and establish new standards if research veers in unexpected directions.[...]

Gov. Mitt Romney's announced opposition to human embryonic stem cell research represents a sudden change in position that threatens vital research in Massachusetts.

Romney created a furor on Beacon Hill on Thursday after telling The New York Times that he favored banning the use of new human embryonic stem cells for research...

He also sent a letter to Senate President Robert Travaglini explaining his position.

In his Times interview, Romney said he now opposes the use of embryonic stem cells which come from human embryos created for the sole reason of research. He does not oppose the use of adult stem cells, which can be grown from existing human tissue.[...]

According to a national opinion survey released last year by the nonprofit and nonpartisan Results For America (a project of the Civil Society Institute) 74 percent of Americans want the White House to lift restrictions on stem cell research.

Read more on stemnews.com and boston.com