USA: FOETAL TISSUE RESEARCH

Описание: (10 Mar 2000) Natural Sound

In Washington on Thursday, the U.S. Congress attempted to stamp out any attempt to sell foetal tissue parts from late term abortions.

Currently, foetal tissue research is permitted under federal law as long as the tissue is donated.

Selling the tissue for a profit is illegal.

Foetal tissue is seen as among the best hopes for finding new treatments for illnesses such as Alzheimers disease, Parkinson's disease and diabetes.

Evidence came before the Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the Environment that at least one group is selling foetal tissue to research institutions and researchers.

One pathologist who bragged about the profitability of foetal tissue before hidden camera on American network television did not appear before the committee.

Miles Jones told a television reporter that he could sell specific tissue parts such as a liver for a specified amount of money.

Some anti-abortion lawmakers expressed concern that some tissue retrieval companies are charging exorbitant prices for fetal tissue.

On Thursday, the two medical researchers to appear before the subcommittee testified that they never bought foetal tissue parts.

Dr. Daniel Cohn told the committee that the tissue used in his research was from first and second trimester abortions and never from late term abortions.

He stressed the need for continued fetal tissue research.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Foetal tissue is used in a variety of medical research studies and is vital to the bio medical enterprise. Guidelines and laws governing the use of this tissue ensure its safe and ethical use. I believe that the great majority that use foetal tissue in their research are scrupulous in following the letter and spirit of the law among other reasons because they are aware of the great sensitivity around its use."
SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Samuel Cohen of the Nebraska Medical Center

Another witness testified he worked in an operation that harvested foetal tissue from partial birth abortions.

This is a procedure administered to women in the third trimester of a pregnancy when they want an abortion.

He told the committee that he became physically ill after observing a live fetus outside the womb from an abortion.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Never was I led to believe that the tissue would be anything but helpful for those in need. What changed my mind was watching late term abortions, seeing their eyes looking at me as I cut through their skulls to extract their brains and for Parkinsons and Alzheimers patients.
SUPER CAPTION: Lawrence Alberty, Fetal Procurement Technician

Anti abortion lawmakers expressed concern that some tissue retrieval companies are illegally charging exorbitant prices to make a profit from the procedure.

Congress made it a felony to purchase or sell tissue for a profit.

The law allows only reasonable charges to cover the cost of extracting and transferring tissue to researchers.

Alberty made it clear that he received calls from researchers asking for specific parts, but he never quoted a price.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I was not, I do not know the people who were buying it on a personal level. When I was a technician, researchers would call me and ask me what type of tissue was available for the day. They wouldn't go through the Barsley's because sometimes they couldn't be reached so they would call me and I would talk to them and tell them what we had."
("Q. - Did you discuss prices with them?")
"No ma'am"
SUPER CAPTION: Lawrence Alberty, Fetal Procurement Technician




SOUNDBITE: (English)



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