AMA cloning vote criticized

National Catholic Reporter, July 4, 2003 by Dennis Coday

CHICAGO -- The American Medical Association has drawn criticism from Catholic and pro-life groups for the June 17 vote at its annual meeting in Chicago declaring, "cloning for biomedical research is consistent with medical ethics."

The recommendations from the association's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, approved without debate, said physicians should be free to decide whether or not to participate in such research and called for "appropriate oversight of this research and safeguards for subjects participating in this type of research."

But the research is never safe for the human embryos created in the process, said officials of several Catholic and pro-life organizations, including the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, the Christian Medical Association and the American Life League.