From: itsmine@med.unc.edu (Greg Popken)
Subject: Re: Fetal tissue research (was Re: Vegetarianism and abortion
Organization: UNC-CH School of Medicine
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 15:42:32 GMT

In article <1993Jan9.022745.15728@ncsu.edu> dsholtsi@csl36h.csl.ncsu.edu (Doug Holtsinger) writes:
>In article <1993Jan8.182534.8944@samba.oit.unc.edu> 
>itsmine@med.unc.edu (Greg Popken) writes:
>
>>RE: fetal tissue research.  
>
>I think there's the possibility that fetal tissue research
>could contribute to an increase in the number of elective 
>abortions.  Women who face a difficult abortion decision
>might be persuaded to abort instead of carry to term by the
>belief that the fetal remains could be used to help other
>people.  I don't think the existence of FTR would influence 
>women who have strong moral convictions against abortion.

I have to admit there is reason for concern on this aspect of the issue.

>
>I would have no objection to fetal tissue research which 
>uses the remains from spontaneous abortions or tubal pregnancies.  
>Despite some claims, I have seen no evidence that there would not 
>be a sufficient amount of fetal tissue to carry out this research.   
>My feeling is that these unsupported claims are made by people 
>who wish to legitimize elective abortion, and by a few powerful
>researchers who are hungry for federal research dollars (the
>program at Yale immediately comes to mind). 

I have to disagree with you.  What are your sources?  I don't have a quote
from an article, but every researcher I have talked to about the topic
feels that there isn't enough tissue to meet the needs.  Pres. Busch
suggested establishing tissue banks, but the problems with locating and
storage of tissue disrupt the feasabilty of such a system.

>
>I have heard of proposed laws which would prevent directed
>donations of fetal tissue, and laws which would separate the 
>decision to donate tissue and the decision to abort.  I feel
>that these laws will not address my objection above.  Many women
>will be aware of the fact that their abortion could help other
>people, regardless of the existence of any law which regulates
>FTR.  The recent case in Florida, for example, of parents who 
>wished to kill their anencephalic infant so that her organs could 
>be donated, highlights the fact that some people will be partially 
>motivated by altruism to kill their offspring.  And no law can prevent 
>a family member or an unscrupulous doctor from pressuring a woman 
>into aborting for "someone else's sake". 

I'm curious as to the extent of the anencephaly.  It is quite possible the
child could not be saved anyway.  And I agree, anywhere there is the
potential for unscrupulus behavior, it will occur.  (the nature of the
beast.)  For that reason I feel very, very strict regulations should be
established to prevent such behavior.  However, the potential for benifit
from fetal tissue research is enormous.  To ignore, or prevent it would
be irresponsible.

Greg Popken

 >>Greg Popken 
 >Doug Holtsinger
>


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