ABORTED BABY TISSUE USED FOR DIABETES RESEARCH

SYDNEY, Australia, August 7, 2002 (LSN.ca) - Australian media are reporting that, for 20 years, a Sydney research team has been using aborted fetuses to try to find a cure for diabetes. In fact, interviews broadcast in Australia reveal that the scientists know exactly what they are up to. As student Shannon Thomas explains to Professor Bernie Tuck, his director at the Sydney hospital's Diabetes Transplant Unit in an on-air exchange: "Well, because of the way I've treated [a certain batch of human embryos], they do not stay the same over time. They are unfortunately on a suicide mission."

Tuck himself comments: "Today what we're using some of the human fetal tissue for is to be able to grow human embryonic stem cells, prior to trying to develop them into insulin producing cells. ... The concept of utilizing embryonic stem cells ... holds out hope ... in the field of diabetes, .... Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, heart diseases and so forth." As is typical with sweeping claims of this type, no evidence is given. But Tuck continues: "Yes, handling human foetal tissue can have initial affects on some people. Some people initially had nightmares in relation to utilizing it. But basically with time those particular affects wore off. ..."

Pro-life comment was sharp: "The community, I believe, doesn't know really what's involved," says Dr. John Flemming, director of the Southern Cross Bioethics Institute. "Normally you would use vacuum aspiration," Fleming adds, "but that would bring the foetus, bit like through a mixer [blender] and the tissue would be unrecognizable. You need an intact live foetus so the tissue is fresh and so that it's easily able to be identified." He says live fetuses are used to provide fresh tissue for experimentation -- a claim Tuck denies.

To read coverage from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) see:
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/s642514.htm
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/aug/02080708.htm