Opposition To Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Support For Fertility Clinics Is Illogical, Opinion Piece Says

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Fertility
Article Date: 11 Jul 2006 - 6:00 PDT

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The human embryonic stem cell research debate tests whether "you believe that embryos a few days after conception have the same human rights as you or me," and "sharpens the basic right-to-life question, in a way abortion never has," Washington Post columnist Michael Kinsley writes in an opinion piece. If embryos do have "full human rights," then fertility clinics "are death camps -- with a side order of cold-blooded eugenics" because they produce more embryos than they intend to implant and destroy the remainder of them, Kinsey writes, adding, "No one who truly believes in the humanity of embryos could possibly think otherwise." However, opponents of embryonic stem cell research support the work of fertility clinics in "their mission of helping people have babies," despite their selective destruction of embryos, Kinsley writes, adding, "Moral sincerity is not impressive if it depends on willful ignorance and indifference to logic" (Kinsley, Washington Post, 7/7).

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