[ OUR OPINION ]

End restrictions
on medical research

THE ISSUE The American Medical Association has endorsed cloning of human embryos for purposes of medical research.

AS senior golf icon Tom Watson strode toward his 72nd hole at the U.S. Open Sunday in Illinois, the large gallery rose and chanted "Bruce!" in appreciation of the 48-year-old man lugging Watson's bag. Bruce Edwards, Watson's caddy for the past 30 years, is dying of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or A.L.S., known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Watson used the spotlight of his opening-day lead in the tournament to plead for contributions to research aimed at finding a cure for A.L.S. As much of a hindrance as the shortage of medical research funds, though, are restrictions placed on research using embryonic stem cells.

The American Medical Association's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs this week endorsed a cloning procedure aimed at creating embryos to cultivate their stem cells, which can divide for indefinite periods in culture and give rise to multiple specialized cell types. Scientists believe these cells can be used to cure A.L.S. and other diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, heart problems and juvenile diabetes. However, chants in support of Bruce Edwards are being drowned out by cries of morality by anti-abortion activists.

President Bush announced a compromise nearly two years ago that limited research to already existing stem-cell lines, saying there were more than 60 such lines that already had been developed from discarded embryos created at fertilization clinics. His executive order placed a ban on using further embryos similarly discarded to be used for medical research.

However, the National Institutes of Health, which made the estimate of more than 60 existing lines, now says only nine lines are available for medical research. Douglas Melton, a stem-cell scientist at Harvard, says researchers need as many as 1,000 lines to assure the best options.

Opponents of stem-cell research warn of a slippery slope toward reproductive human cloning, following the cloning of sheep in Scotland and mice in Hawaii. However, recent failures to clone monkeys have caused scientists to conclude that problems will arise in the cloning of all primates, including humans. That reality belies a strange cult's claim to have cloned humans and should quell fears about human cloning.

Instead, the U.S. House overwhelmingly approved legislation in February that would prohibit the production of cloned human embryos for medical research as well and for reproduction. Scientists violating the ban would face up to 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The White House issued a statement that "strongly supports" such a ban and opposes any legislation that would "permit the creation of cloned embryos or development of human embryo farms for research, which would require the destruction of nascent human lives."

Important medical research is being impeded by anti-abortion emotions directed at saving embryos that have no potential of becoming a human life. The Bruce Edwardses of the future will suffer the consequences.