Bush: Stem-cell research offers promise, peril
( 2001-08-11 15:51 ) (7 )

President George W. Bush said on Saturday embryonic stem-cell research offers "great promise and great peril" as he outlined why he chose a middle path on the controversial topic.

Bush on Thursday night authorized federal funding on stem-cell research but limited it to existing stem-cell "lines" created from embryos destroyed in the process, meaning the life and death decision on them has already been made.

He refused to allow harvesting of stem cells from 100,000 embryos frozen at fertility clinics, as scientists would prefer. Scientists believe stem cells offer hope for cures to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

With the decision, Bush sought a middle ground between those who want as much stem-cell research as possible and those opposed to any research that destroys human embryos.

"Embryonic stem-cell research offers both great promise and great peril. So I have decided we must proceed with great care," Bush said in his weekly radio address, taped at his central Texas ranch where he is on a month-long vacation.

Leading scientists said the decision, while a good start, would constrain medical research. Key lawmakers in Washington said on Friday they were encouraged by Bush's decision, but many expressed concern it might not meet scientists' needs and indicated they may press legislation to allow more research.

Sen. Arlen Specter expressed concern in a statement that the existing stem-cell lines are not enough to satisfy the needs of scientific research. Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, sponsored legislation along with Iowa Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin allowing federal funding to extract stem cells for research from embryos that will be destroyed anyway.

"I intend to press for an early Senate vote on my bill to allow federal funding to extract stem cells from embryos destined for destruction...," Specter said.

Arguing for his solution, Bush said his plan "allows us to explore the promise and potential of stem-cell research without crossing a fundamental moral line, by providing taxpayer funding that would sanction or encourage further destruction of human embryos that have at least the potential for life."

Bush expressed alarm that scientists recently had created human embryos in test tubes solely to experiment on them.

"This is deeply troubling, and a warning sign that should prompt all of us to think through these issues very carefully," he said. "We recoil at the idea of growing human beings for spare body parts or creating life for our convenience. I strongly oppose cloning," he said.

He also said, "we must devote enormous energy to conquering disease" but that it is equally important to "pay attention to the moral concerns raised by the new frontier of human embryo stem-cell research."

"Even the most noble ends do not justify any means," he said.