Brazil's Supreme Court Ruling Allows Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 03 Jun 2008 - 8:00 PST

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Brazil's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a 2005 law allowing scientists in the country to conduct embryonic stem cell research, the AP/Google.com reports. Some advocates said the ruling could make Brazil Latin America's leader in stem cell research. (Sibaja, AP/Google.com, 5/29).

The law allows research using embryos created during in vitro fertilization procedures that have been frozen for at least three years. Some researchers in the country said that most embryonic stem cell research has been suspended since the law was challenged in court in 2005 (Simoes/Khalip, Reuters, 5/29). Attorney General Claudio Fontelles challenged the law, saying it violates the right to life in the country's constitution.

Six of the high court's 11 justices upheld the law. The remaining five judges found the law is constitutional but said stem cell research should only be allowed with restrictions, such as prohibiting embryos from being destroyed or requiring that projects be approved by an ethics committee.

The National Conference of Brazilian Bishops in a statement said the group "regretted" the ruling, adding, it is "not a matter of religion, but of the defense of human life, beginning with conception" (AP/Google.com, 5/29). Brazil's Health Ministry, which has funded embryonic stem cell research projects, said the embryos that could be used for research purposes under the law would otherwise eventually be discarded (Reuters, 5/29).

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