As a result of the passage of Proposal 2 last November, human embryos stored in fertility clinics now qualify as research material and are up for grabs to research laboratories. Most human embryos remain protected from research, with the exception of those produced in "excess" of their parents' childbearing desires and can be designated for stem cell research.
While the election concerning the "leftover embryo" is over, many questions remain. Who decides which university or private research entity will be awarded the highly sought-after embryos? How many are there? What happens when the supply is depleted? Will additional "research subjects," whether human or human-animal hybrid, be manufactured to satisfy the demand? If steps are taken outside the provisions of Proposal 2, what are the penalties?
The Embryo Research and Fertility Clinic Transparency legislation introduced in Lansing is a bipartisan attempt to spell out exactly what Proposal 2 does and codify it into law. It does not reverse any portion of the constitutional amendment. It does not restrict in any way the donation of "excess" embryos, nor does it limit what researchers can do with the embryonic stem cells.
Fertility clinics seek to serve their patients' needs. This legislation goes a step further by requiring patients seeking fertility treatments to give written informed consent concerning a variety of potential scenarios they may encounter through the process, including the possibility of creating "excess" embryos, the storage costs involved and the options that will determine their embryos' future fate.
In accordance with Proposal 2, couples must be made aware that these bills prevent them and IVF clinics from becoming "embryo brokers" by prohibiting the buying or selling of embryos for "valuable consideration."
One point made abundantly clear throughout the stem cell debate was the complete lack of information surrounding how many frozen human embryos are stored in Michigan. This legislation will provide the answer. It will require clinics to provide an annual report stating how many human embryos were destroyed, implanted, frozen in storage, donated for research or donated for adoption.
In addition, successful live births resulting from in vitro fertilization will be noted in the annual report. Research entities, whether public or private, who are recipients of the embryos will in turn be required to report how many human embryos they obtained.
Transparency and accountability are a must when it comes to this emerging scientific field. The purpose of this legislation is not to impose government regulation but to add transparency. For the first time in Michigan history, a population of human beings will be classified as "research material" and destroyed for their parts.
Without setting these policies in place, we face just the beginning of a field wide open to trafficking human clones into the state, mixing interspecies DNA through creating human-animal hybrids and other potential unspeakable acts of human experimentation.
About the author: Dr. Joseph E. Kincaid, of Portage, is a specialist in internal medicine and endocrinology and serves as vice president of Right to Life of Michigan.
About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.
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