Federal Judge Sides With Obama Administration on Embryonic Stem Cell Research
- Posted on July 27, 2011 at 7:09pm by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — A lawsuit that had threatened to end the Obama administration’s funding of embryonic stem cell research was dismissed Wednesday. This will allowing the U.S. 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.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, chief of the federal court in Washington, last year said the lawsuit was likely to succeed and ordered a stop to the research while the case continued. But under swift protest from the Obama administration, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals here quickly overturned Lamberth’s injunction and said the case was likely to fail.
Lamberth said in his opinion Wednesday that he is bound by the higher court‘s analysis and ruled in favor of the administration’s motion to dismiss the case. Bloomberg has more:
“The court’s determination that it is bound by the D.C. Circuit’s conclusion that ‘research’ in the Dickey-Wicker Amendment is ambiguous as a matter of law is buttressed by the fact that plaintiffs haven’t offered any new information or reasoning that was unavailable to the D.C. Circuit,” Lamberth wrote in today’s ruling.
The doctors who sued asked the judge last month to block the funding again, arguing that the appeals court considered only one of their arguments.
Researchers hope one day to use embryonic stem cells in ways that cure spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease and other ailments. Opponents of the research object because the cells were obtained from destroyed human embryos. Though current research is using cells culled long ago, opponents also fear research success would spur destruction of new embryos. Proponents say the research cells come mostly from extra embryos discarded anyway by fertility clinics.
President George W. Bush also permitted stem cell research, but limited the availability of taxpayer funds to embryonic stem cell lines that were already in existence and “where the life and death decision has already been made.” Obama’s order removed that limitation, allowing projects that involve stem cells from already-destroyed embryos or embryos to be destroyed in the future. To qualify, parents who donate the original embryo must be told of other options, such as donating to another infertile woman.
The Obama administration’s rules expanded the number of stem cell lines created with private money that federally funded scientists could research, up from the 21 that Bush had allowed, to around 100 so far.
The lawsuit was filed in 2009 by two scientists — Dr. James Sherley, a biological engineer at Boston Biomedical Research Institute, and Theresa Deisher, of Washington-based AVM Biotechnology – who argued that Obama’s expansion jeopardized their ability to win government funding for research using adult stem cells – ones that have already matured to create specific types of tissues – because it will mean extra competition.
Comments (22)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 688 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 537 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 466 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 374 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 334 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 308 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 316 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 217 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 301 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 308 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Harvey
Posted on July 29, 2011 at 4:58amOf course the Federal Judge will give Obama what he wants,after all Hes the one,hes never wrong no one dares say no.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on July 29, 2011 at 3:24amThey’re only using embryos that were going to be destroyed anyway. What’s the big deal?
Report Post »MUDFLAPS
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 6:17pmwe have to stop giving these nut cases jobs for life. really
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 9:43pmthey do what ever they want and you will never know
http://www.infowars.com/part-humanpart-animal-hybrid-monsters-created-by-scientists-all-over-the-planet/
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 9:45pmObama was cloned from an Egyptian Pharaoh
Report Post »search it for yourself
dontbotherme
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 12:15pmGod help the US Circuit Court of Appeals. They have just condemned themselves to hell. Satan is doing well with those who do not value life. May God please forgive our Country & the people who have allowed us to go so very far into darkness. We must not remain silent. It is time to stand up for life. We cannot be silent any longer or evil will prevail.
Report Post »TangoMike79
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 1:50pmAs Christians we do adhere to the concept that human life is sacred, there is no arguing about that. The ethical and moral basis of our Judeo-Christian belief is that bringing a child into this world is the worthy union of a male and female correct?
When 2 individuals are worthy and wish to have a child, conception occurs after a male sperm & a female egg is fertilized leading to a multitude of cell signaling events that cause the formation and proliferation of embryonic stem cells which then “differentiate” or in nontechnical and very simplistic terms begin to give rise to all of the organ systems that are needed for human life. I believe that this process was created by GOD to enable an interface for our spirits to occupy in the physical world.
Now, here is where I have a problem with your post… After the birth of a child and a spirit has been able to occupy it there are still embryonic stem cells in the umbilical blood and placental material (which nourished the fetus) and there are also adult stem cells located within your body as we speak. What some people do not understand is that studying these types of cells can lead to a multitude of scientific discoveries to treat and cure many diseases and physiological conditions that lead to pain, suffering, and death within this world.
It pains me when I see faithful Christians take the stance that scientific inquiry/discovery is anti-religion and against the will of GOD. It is my firm belief that GOD created the
Report Post »TangoMike79
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 1:50pm*for us to continually progress and develop. So my question comes down to this: Why wouldn’t GOD want us to attempt to understand how he created everything around us and how to utilize those physical laws and principles that he used to bring about creation?
Now, are there areas of this research that should not be touched upon? Of course there is and ethical and moral standards regarding this sort of research need to be considered and established!!! For example: purposefully harvesting embryonic stem cells after fertilization of human gametes or abortion should not be allowed. However, there is not a legitimate set of religious canon that we can currently rely upon regarding other issues within this topic. I think that these things will be revealed to us in due time. Additionally, the atonement occurred for a reason and that was to ensure that some of the sins we commit, even if we had no idea we committed them, can be forgiven.
BTW, my credentials regarding this issue are based in Molecular and Cellular Biology and the Medical practice/research field. I haven’t worked with embryonic or adult stem cells though…
Report Post »affinnity
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 12:15pmWhy do we argue with these people? Let them devolve and depopulate themselves and be done with it. As long as conservatives don’t voluntarily participate in this garbage we should let the liberals destroy their bodies natural cells and exterminate themselves as quickly as possible. If they’re willing to inject living organisms into their bodies, especially their spines – do it – why should we care?
Report Post »NSDQ
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 10:50amGreat now there is a monetary incentive for mothers to slaughter their unborn children Physician – Primum non nocere
Report Post »christos
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 9:52am……What they sow they shall reap why bother with this when they could ask +GOD+ to heal them because they do not walk by faith they walk by sight they do not trust in +GOD+ they trust in themselves and man they are outside of the Grace of +GOD+ because they know more than +GOD+ they have rejected their +CREATOR GOD+JESUS+ they have made their choice hope they reexamine this and realize their practicing of eugenics is wrong.
Report Post »USAF2003
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 8:38amI can’t believe there is no one outraged over this story. Stem cell research is EVIL. End of story.
Report Post »Whatdoumeanbythat
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 9:05amThe only successful stem cell treatments are being done with adult stem cells. Growing new skin, heart, lung can be done with the patient’s own stem cells. This eliminates rejection. Embryonic stem cells are, as of now, uncontrollable. The always turn into cancers. Quit picking on the babies, and concentrate on what works.
encinom
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 10:17amWhat is evil is see a person suffer and doing nothing becasue of a 2,000 year old book of legends and myths.
Report Post »gorilla31
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 10:30amWhy does the federal government have anything to say about this? It makes no sense. The constitution does not give the government the right to ban any type of research.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 8:26amOf all the ridiculous issues the GOP has ever stepped into, this one topped the list. Hopefully now we can put it behind us once and for all.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 11:21amOnce you can destroy human life in the name of saving human life ,you’ve stopped valuing human life but simply value utilitarian “progress” [the greatest good for the greatest number of people]. A numbers game is unethical since every human is a subject ,not an object [as a first principle which regonizes the reality that living beings naturally strive to remain alive]. That a clump of cells don’t have consciousness does not negate their status as being alive and being human entities] hence embyonic stem cell reseach is evil [it treats human life as a means to an end].
Report Post »Locked
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 1:35pm@Rose
That “clump of cells” will never be “alive” as we think of it; it will never grow. It will never become a human. If a human is defined as a “clump of cells” in the same way, God Himself is the ultimate murderer, as up to 50% of these “clumps of cells” will be spontaneously and naturally aborted without any human will.
It’s like arguing that women should be held for murder if they miscarry. It makes no sense whatsoever.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 8:10amThe competitive environment was changed. Millions, perhaps billions of dollars down the drain…talking about previous grant money in which, yes, you paid for it.
Now they have to re-invent the wheel and cross the line to do it.
Report Post »streetrodder
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 7:32amFederal judge sides with King Obozo. Well thats that. LOL
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 6:47amDang.. I thought this was a story about cinnamon donuts. At least that’s what the picture looked like.
Report Post »RED-DAWN
Posted on July 28, 2011 at 10:49amHeck, I’m glad I took time to read the article. I glanced at the title and thought it said EBONIC stem cell research….
My Bad
Report Post »