Social & Moral Issues Ethical Issues

HUMAN CLONING FLAWED DUE TO FLUKE OF BIOLOGY EMBARGO: Immediate Release Enquiries: Prof. Hennie Cronje Date: 12 April 2003 Tel: (051) 405-3444 More Information: www.dfl.org.za Recent Evidence on Human Cloning brings a new dimension to DFL’s upcoming National Conference on Medical Ethics. Doctors for Life International (DFL) notes the new evidence showing major flaws in the human cloning process. Scientists in the United States say hundreds of attempts to clone monkeys have ended in failure. Their research concludes that the biological make-up of the oocyte (egg cell) of primates, including humans, makes cloning practically impossible. When attempting to clone primates, it was found that as the egg cell divides, the DNA is unevenly distributed, the cells ending up with too much or too little genetic information. Dr. Gerald Schatten, who led the study, is a professor of obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania. “This adds yet another nail in the coffin to never ever attempt reproductive cloning of humans,” he told Reuters Health. “Human cloning is unsafe, unethical and ought to be illegal,” he added. If this finding is confirmed, thousands of scientists across the globe will breathe a sigh of relief, as the cloning of humans is morally unacceptable for many doctors, biologists and medical scientists. As DFL has noted before, human cloning is morally corrupt, manipulative and dangerous as all clones to date face a shortened lifetime of suffering and premature aging. In the light of current evidence and research, we believe that human cloning should not be pursued given our current understanding and knowledge. Recently, Dolly (first sheep clone) was “euthanised” due to lung disease caused by premature aging. Claims to the first human clones are all unsubstantiated or refuted. International experts and doctors in this field will be discussing the ethics of cloning in the National Conference on Medical Ethics from 30 July to 1 August 2003. We affirm the need for moral scrutiny as research on cloning continues. DFL is an organisation of about 900 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. Doctors For Life International P.O.Box 1647 Kloof 3640 +27 82 407 3929 (mobile) +27 (0)31 764 0443 (office) +27 (0)31 764 0443 (fax) _______________________________________________ Pleased read our disclaimer   Back to Social Issues