Compromises in US Senate cloning debates

Both sides in the US cloning debate are said to be considering amendments to two bills before the Senate, in order to sway some of the lawmakers who are as yet undecided how to vote.

A bill sponsored by Republican Senator Sam Brownback would ban all forms of cloning. Another, supported by Democrat Senators Dianne Feinstein and Edward Kennedy would not allow reproductive cloning but would allow cloning to be used in medical research for therapeutic reasons. President Bush, in a speech earlier this month, indicated his support for the Brownback bill, saying that anything short of this would be 'unethical' and almost impossible to enforce.

The LA Times reports that, according to 'people familiar with the discussions' amendments may be made to each of the bills in order to sway undecided Senators. A clause may be introduced to the Feinstein bill which says that no cloning may take place 'in or near fertility clinics'. It is hoped that such a clause, and another which would prevent the freezing or storage of cloned human embryos, will make therapeutic cloning 'more palatable'.

Opponents of cloning are considering whether to modify the content of the Brownback bill by removing a clause which imposes heavy fines and/or prison sentences for anyone who imports a medical treatment developed through cloning. Lifting the ban on importation may encourage some senators to vote for the bill as it would clearly ban reproductive cloning while not entirely hindering the use of cloning in medical research.

Meanwhile, paraplegic protestors from a group called 'Lives in the Balance' have staged a protest by taking part in a mock-hanging outside the White House. They are campaigning for therapeutic cloning and stem cell research to be allowed. Also last week, the lower house of parliament in Russia unanimously approved a five-year ban on all forms of human cloning, by 365 votes to zero. The measure must be approved by the upper house and signed by President Putin in order to become law.