[This statement is currently under review by ARHP’s policy committee. An updated statement will be posted as soon as it is revised and approved by the ARHP board of directors.]
Recognizing that cloning raises important and complicated medical and ethical questions, ARHP encourages open and inclusive dialogue on all aspects of the technology and its potential.
Reproductive Cloning
- While ARHP acknowledges the intense desire of infertile couples for a genetically related child or children, and supports reproductive choice, overwhelming scientific evidence (as summarized in the 2002 National Academies of Science report) shows that cloning is not a safe procedure for human reproduction at this time (1).
Therapeutic Cloning and Stem Cell Research
- Therapeutic or 'research' cloning is a viable form of scientific research and should remain legal.
- Stem cell research holds enormous promise for advancing our fundamental knowledge of human physiology and our ability to develop new, safe and effective treatments for disease and injury, ARHP supports both basic and applied research utilizing stem cells from embryos created for research purposes (therapeutic cloning) as well as from adults. Considering the preliminary state of knowledge in this field, embryonic stem cell research should not be restricted or deferred in the hope that therapeutic goals can be achieved solely through research using adult stem cells.
- In order to address the many concerns surrounding this research, effective guidelines for the conduct and regulation of therapeutic cloning must be developed with the ongoing input and oversight of a broad constituency.
- Clinical and ethical standards must be maintained to protect the well-being, rights and dignity of clinical trial participants and future patient
Reference
1."Scientific and Medical Aspects of Human Reproductive Cloning," available from the National Academy Press.
ARHP's Cloning statement was approved by ARHP's executive committee on August 22, 2002 and recommended by ARHP's policy committee on May 24, 2002.
