Foundation inducts 2007 Class of Fellows; guest speaker cites the need for embryonic stem cell research

Our State Bar's newsletter reports on this Wisconsin Law Foundation event. The Foundation is described as

dedicated to enhancing, promoting, funding, and developing charitable and educational programs to promote public understanding of the law.

Guest speaker Robyn S. Shapiro

spoke about embryonic stem cell research. "Ideally in most circumstances there would be a lot of overlap in that the law would reflect what would be the optimal ethical resolution of a dilemma," she said. "That does not always happen because sometimes we do not have consensus in society."

Citing abortion as one of the areas where it is impossible to draw lines about what behavior should be allowed, she noted that Britain has legalized stem cell research and permits cloning and that other European countries have much more lenient policies than does our country.

Noting that researchers ultimately could begin leaving this country if the policy is not changed, she said, "The biggest ethical issue regarding stem cell research may well be missed potential opportunities, which would be the case if these restrictions preclude or even just delay investigation that might lead to cures or amelioration of many diseases thought to be amenable to the promise of stem cell therapy."