jj@alice.UUCP (04/11/84)
According to a news article today (paper news, that is), an Ant-Abortion group in Great Britian, called LIFE, has called for the arrest and conviction of a leading scientist on the charge of murder. This scientist is the individual who has successfully managed in-vitro fertilization and implantation of the embryo in several previously infertile couples, thus saving the life of several helpless gametes, among other things. The charge is based on the fact (agreed to by all) that he managed to keep an embryo alive in-vitro for 9 days in his lab before it died, as part of an experiment to find out how to make an embryo implant itself in the womb. The LIFE individuals contend that allowing the embryo to die was in fact premeditated murder, because the researcher knew in advance that the embryo could not survive. (The researcher DID take all steps possible to keep the embryo alive, according to the news release.) The researcher, the police, and the medical community in GB have reserved comment thus far. I find these actions extremely hypocritical, coming from a pro-life organization. It's clear that the absolute stance of this organization (LIFE) is such that they are content to allow many embryos/fetuses/babies to DIE because of a lack of the necessary medical knowledge, while they also do their best to prevent the discovery of such medical knowledge. Comments from net participants in Great Britian are encouraged.