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Criminal investigation against Andalucía Stem Cell Bank
By m.p. - Nov 28, 2007 - 6:21 PM
ALSO SEE : • Spain gives go ahead to research using therapeutic cloning - Jan 24, 2008 - 7:37 AM
• Judge rejects complaint against Andalucian stem cell scientists - Dec 3, 2007 - 3:45 PM

Pablo Menéndez, Director of the Andalucía Stem Cell Bank. Photo 20 minutos – www.20minutos.es
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A complaint placed with a court in Santiago de Compostela alleges stem cell research is unconstitutional and an attempt on human life
Four scientists from the Andalucía Stem Cell Bank in Granada are to be questioned in Instruction Court No. 8 in the city, in an investigation where a possible crime of genetic manipulation is alleged. It follows a complaint lodged with a court in Santiago de Compostela, which alleges that stem cell research is unconstitutional and is an attempt on human life.

El Mundo newspaper names the woman who placed the complaint as Carmen Areosa, and says she is connected to the Fundación Red Madre, a foundation which provides assistance to pregnant women, and which is supported by the Spanish Family Forum. EFE reports that she has placed similar complaints alleging that experiments are being carried out elsewhere in Spain, including in Valencia and Barcelona.

The four scientists called for questioning are the director of the Stem Cell Bank, Pablo Menéndez, his predecessor, Ángel Concha, and two other researchers at the centre. The court date originally set for this Thursday has now been postponed for an as yet unspecified date in the future.

The Health Minister, Bernat Soria, who is himself a world authority on stem cell research, said the four scientists are legally protected by the Biomedicine Research Law, which he described as legislation which is ‘very respectful’ of ethics. And in Andalucía, the Junta’s Health Councillor, María Jesús Montero, noted that such research is permitted by regional legislation passed in 2003, which was the first of its type in Spain. The Councillor said the complaint was based on purely religious grounds.

The Andalucia Stem Cell Bank was the first public body of its type to be created in Spain, specifically for research into stem cells, working with lines of embryo cells legally authorised and from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.


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ALSO SEE :
• Spain gives go ahead to research using therapeutic cloning - Jan 24, 2008 - 7:37 AM
• Judge rejects complaint against Andalucian stem cell scientists - Dec 3, 2007 - 3:45 PM