The Kass Bioethics Report

[goofyfish]

The Kass Bioethics Council has issued its report. The Post is treating the results as mixed, but anti-cloning people are apparently crowing while researchers say the process was political.

But as Professor Glenn Reynolds wrote in May of this year, it doesn't really matter. Bush has already made up his mind to oppose cloning, making the Kass Council a sideshow at best; phony political window-dressing at worst.

"So it was a surprise when, on April 10, the president announced his decision to ban cloning of all kinds. His opinions appeared fully formed even though our panel has yet to prepare a final report and will be voting on the crucial point of biomedical cloning -- which produces cells to be used in researching and treating illnesses. While it is true that the president's position is one held by some of the members of the panel, not all agree."

The big news, if there's any, is that the Council, despite looking stacked, was so closely divided. This suggests that anti-cloning legislation is going to continue to have trouble in Congress. That's as it should be, since it's none of Congress's constitutional business anyway.

Here's a link to another article by Prof. Reynolds where he pretty much decimates the anti-cloning arguments.

Peace.