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PAGE 7—The Georgia Bulletin, August 2,1984 British Bishops Protest Guidelines BY ROBERT NOWELL LONDON (NC) - A British government committee said that researchers should be allowed to experiment with human embryos up to 14 days after fertilization, a practice which Britain’s bishops have called “unaccept able” unless the embryo’s welfare is the first consideration. The recommendation aims at laboratory fertilizations of human eggs, the so-called “in vitro” procedure. The committee also recommended a licensing agency to oversee the freezing of embryos and proposed outlawing surrogate motherhood - the practice by which one woman carries another’s baby to term, in some cases for pay. “Techniques of observation or experimentation or selection or storage which are not intended to benefit that embryo itself are fundamentally unacceptable and ought to be prohibited,” the bishops of England, Wales and Scotland said in a statement released just prior to publication of the committee’s report. Cardinal Basil Hume said that no society could claim or give others absolute power over life and death. “There is a law of God the creator which is higher than any man-made legislation,” he said. “It is crucial that the findings of this committee should be subjected to the most rigorous analysis and debate by society as a whole,” the cardinal said. The government committee, headed by senior Oxford University researcher Dame Mary Warnock, said that while “the embryo of the human species should be afforded some protection in law,” some experimentation, such as genetic research, could be allowed. The panel proposed prohibiting experimentat ion beyond two weeks, the end of the period during which a fertilized egg normally implants itself in the uterus and begins developing organs and other body parts. Three of the panel’s 16 members objected, arguing against experimentation, and calling instead for special legal protection for embryos. The dissenting group included neurologist John Marshall, a Catholic who in the 1960s served on a special papal commission studying church teachings on birth control. The committee was established two years ago by the British government to examine the social, ethical and legal implications of so-called “test-tube baby” research. It was the first such attempt in Britain toward establishing legal controls on such research since the July 25, 1978, birth in England of Louise Joy Brown, the world’s first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization. In vitro fertilization is a technique for joining a human egg and sperm in a laboratory. In cases where the technique is used for infertile couples, the developing embryo is transferred to the woman’s womb after two weeks. In its recommendations on surrogate motherhood, the committee called for criminal penalties for persons creatine or operating agencies to make such arrangements. The panel said the law should De drawn broadly enough to include professionals and others “who knowingly assist in the establishment of a surrogate pregnancy.” The committee proposed making any surrogacy contracts illegal and unenforceable in the courts. However, the panel recognized that it would be impossible to prevent do-it-yourself surrogate arrangements between private individuals. The British government has announced that it will seek the views of the public and of interested organizations on the committee recommendat ions. The government said it also hopes to debate the matter in Parliament in the fall. The public review, parliamentary debate and government study of the proposals could take two years before govemment- - sponsored legislation is passed. However, legislation could be introduced earlier by members of Parliament. O'Connor Baby Wins State Aid BY MSGR. NOEL C. BURTENSHAW Urged by Sheila Mallon, director of the Pro-Life Office in the Catholic Center, the Georgia Bulletin publicized the plight of seven-month-old Jennifer O’Connor in the June 21 issue. “Thank God we did,” said a jubilant Sheila Mallon, “because everything turned out right for the little one.” Barbara and Jerry O’Connor were urged to let little Jennifer die when she was born after serious complications. Other complications set in which threatened the baby’s life. Insurance for expensive care was running out and while the state was ready to take care of Jennifer in hospital no funds were forthcoming for home care even though home care cost much less and would be a saving to the taxpayer. “Home care,” said Margaret Mary Cadigan Attorney At Law Wills, Contracts, Business 809 Myrtle St. 876-4170 Atlanta, Ga. (Midtown) M M W— -1M — U " , Sandy Springs Chapel ! Funeral Directors I A Personalized Service For All Faiths 136 Mt. 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She will receive the funds providing her with the necessary medical care while remaining at home. “It has saved her life,” says Sheila Mallon. “Even if we only help one child it is all worth it.” Many people of different faiths combined to help the O’Connors, who have three other young children. Their own Baptist church in Cobb County helped along with congregations from many other denominations. © J im Ellis © Volkswagen Sales — Service — Parts Call 458-6811 Body Shop — New & Used Cars 5855 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Chamblee, Ga. HAS SOCIAL SECURITY TURNED YOU DOWN FOR DISABILITY? CALL 371-8233 CYNTHIA L. HORTON. ATTY. No Fee On Initial Claim Unless You Win! Fertility New Procedure Seen As Hopeful Answer NC News Service Though no positively identified pregnancies had resulted by mid-July form the low tubal ovum transfer program at a Catholic hospital in Ohio, researchers in the program said they remained optimistic. The low tubal ovum transfer method, which was being tried for the first time in the United States at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio, has been viewed by some church officials as an acceptable alternative to test-tube fertilization. The hospital began the program last September. “It is a new procedure, and it takes awhile” to achieve success, said Donald Troike, an embryologist on the medical team at St. Elizabeth’s. Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk of Cincinnati and theologians at the Pope John XXIII Medical-Moral Research and Education Center in St. Louis have said the low tubal ovum transfer technique is in accord with church teaching. _ The technique is designed to overcome the most common cause of infertility in women - blocked fallopian tubes, which prevent sperm from reaching the ovum. With LTOT, tubal blockages are circumvented by surgically removing eggs from an infertile woman and transferring the eggs to the lower or mid-portion of one of her undamaged fallopian tubes, where fertilization later can occur naturally. With the in vitro method, the woman’s extracted eggs are fertilized with the husband’s sperm in an artificial growth medium. “We feel we’re getting fertilization, but we may not be getting implantation,” Dr. David S. McLaughlin, head of the St. Elizabeth’s LTOT medical team, told NC News. He said the fertilized eggs must become implanted in the lining of the uterus for pregnancy to occur. This, he said, is done surgically in the in vitro method, but not in LTOT, where it must occur naturally. Duane Hunter DISTRICT 5 COMMISSIONER DeKALB COUNTY BUSINESSMAN. • Experienced sales, consulting, management executive. • Now marketing manager, Aerovox Georgia Incorporated. PUBLIC SERVANT. • Formerly Southeast Regional Advocate, US Small Business Administration. • Currently a member of the SBA Advisory Council. COMMUNITY LEADER. • Past director. Redan Hgh School Touchdown Club. • Hidden Hills representative. Friends of Redan and the DeKalb County Civic Coalition. FAMILY MAN. • Married and father of three sons. • Member Corpus Christi Catholic Church. VOTE TUESDAY AUGUST 14 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
