SAN FRANCISCO, CA March 14, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Human cloning practitioner, Advanced Cell Technology (ACT), Inc. announced a clinical trial agreement with Chandler Regional Medical Center and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, members of Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), on Wednesday. The groups plan to join in clinical trials of adult stem cell techniques for the treatment of heart disease.
“The agreement with CHW signifies our readiness to begin the Phase II clinical trial,” said William M. Caldwell, IV, chairman and CEO of ACT. “We are excited to begin the trial, which has the potential to be a major advance for the field of regenerative medicine and, more importantly, to patients in need of care. We look forward to working with such a prominent healthcare group.”
The agreement raises ethical questions, however, since the ACT has previously promoted research that contradicts Catholic principles regarding respect for the rights of the human embryo.
In 2005, ACT began using the blastomere separation method, in which a cell from an embryo is removed and cultured separately. The method had previously been used in in vitro fertilization facilities. Cells from the embryo are used because of their “totipotency,” or ability to produce any other tissue in the body, and even a twin embryo.
Contact Catholic Healthcare West about their union with Advanced Cell Technology:
Catholic Healthcare West
185 Berry Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 438-5500
http://www.chwhealth.org/About_Us/Contact_CHW/index.htm
Contact San Francisco’s Bishop about CHW’s union with ACT:
Archbishop George H. Niederauer, D.D, Ph.D
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco
One Peter Yorke Way
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 614-5500
info@sfarchdiocese.org
