Pro-life group concerned over NIH head’s support of fetal tissue research

Washington D.C., Dec 17, 2018 / 14:53 pm

A pro-life group dedicated to electing pro-life officials is calling on U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration to "correct" comments supportive of fetal tissue sales and research, recently made by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins.

At a meeting of an NIH advisory panel in Maryland on Dec. 13, Collins said that while fetal tissue sales are currently being audited by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and alternatives to fetal tissue are being explored, fetal tissue "will continue to be the mainstay" of federal scientific research.

"There is strong evidence that scientific benefits can come from fetal tissue research, which can be done with an ethical framework," he added.

His comments come at a time when HHS, the parent agency of NIH, has terminated contracts with groups over their use of fetal stem cell tissue, has declined new contracts with other groups over the same, is auditing the use of fetal stem cell tissue throughout the department, and is exploring alternatives to the use of fetal tissue research.

For the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List, a pro-life group that works to end abortion and elect pro-life officials, the remark drew deep concern.

The comments from Collins "put him at odds with HHS and the whole Trump Administration in the audit process and begs the question of whether anything can truly change while he's in charge at NIH," Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA List, said in a statement.

"We urge HHS to correct his comments, which are dramatically out of step both with President Trump and the pro-life voters who elected him," Dannenfelser said.

In comments to reporters, Collins argued that fetal tissue is necessary for certain kinds of research, and said that "even for somebody who is very supportive of the pro-life position, you can make a strong case for this being an ethical stance...That if something can be done with these tissues that might save somebody's life downstream, perhaps that's a better choice than discarding them."

Dannenfelser said in her statement that "there is absolutely no moral or ethical justification for treating these children like commodities to be chopped up and sold piece-by-piece to anyone - especially the federal government with taxpayers footing the bill."

"These hearts, eyes, livers and brains belong to fellow members of the human family. They are 'harvested' following abortions that deprive these unborn boys and girls of their right to life," she said.

She urged correction of Collins, noting that pro-life voters are looking to the administration for pro-life action.

"Pro-life voters across America reject the use of their tax dollars to purchase the 'fresh' body parts of unborn children and are looking for a pro-life policy change."