While several states were weighing pro-life measures on their ballots a couple weeks ago, Politico reported last week the Trump administration was already looking to “discontinue more than $100 million in research projects that use fetal tissue” that already exist within the Health and Human Services Department. A spokesperson told Politico, “HHS is holding multiple listening sessions with various stakeholders [like] scientists, pro-life groups, ethicists, on this topic.” Discontinuing this research would be a huge step toward acknowledging the sanctity of life of the unborn.
Utilizing fetal tissue at the government level has been an issue for years but especially since the Center for Medical Progress released its undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood illegally procured tissue from aborted babies and sold it to various organizations. The review began in September as a trickle-down effect from the videos and HHS’ announcement it was suddenly terminating a contract it had with ABR, which is under federal investigation for working with Planned Parenthood.
The use of fetal tissue for research has long been a rub between pro-life advocates and scientists.
This last fall, a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled against a local pro-life group, Pro-life Action Ministries, which had filed a lawsuit in 2016 against the University of Minnesota “for its unlawful use of aborted human fetal tissue in research.” It is illegal to procure fetal tissue from abortions and use it for research under Minnesota statute. However, the University of Minnesota was not found guilty, since it argued “while the case was pending, they had updated policies and clarified the law by instituting oversight of fetal tissue research.”
Scientists often argue that the use of fetal tissue, aborted or otherwise, is essential, necessary, and helpful to future generations. However, there are a few in the scientific community who argue it’s unethical and the same research can be done via other means. In an interview last year with the Charlotte Lozier Institute, Tara Sander Lee, a molecular biologist, specified the problem with using fetal tissue for research:
In the interview, Sander Lee dispelled the myth that fetal tissue is the only means by which vaccines can be formulated or cures for disease found:
The National Institutes of Health funds more than $100 million in research that utilizes fetal tissue. Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health, is leading the review and invited several scientific organizations to voice their input on the use of aborted fetal tissue in research.
Discontinuing research using aborted fetal tissue would be a big step toward recognizing the humanity and dignity of the unborn. If there truly have not been any more diseases cured or vaccinations formulated with aborted fetal tissue, why not remain on the side of ethics in all quests for knowledge?
Nicole Russell (@russell_nm) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota.
