During the summer, the US prolife network revealed an FDA contract[1] in the United States to purchase tissue from aborted human foetuses to create “chimeric mice”, i.e. with a human immune system, for research purposes. In response, the Ministry of Health issued a statement last Monday announcing the termination of this contract and the launch of an audit on all acquisitions involving human foetal tissues “in order to ensure compliance with current legislation and regulations”. The Ministry of Health also wishes “to explore alternatives to using human foetal tissues”. The FDA for its part denies any involvement in the purchase of these “samples” which would have been entrusted to a non-profit-making organisation.
Marjorie Dannenfelser from the prolife network agrees that this is a“small step in the right direction”, but considers these statements to be “inadequate”.
The need for stricter regulations in this “industry” came to light with the 2015 publication of a report highlighting aborted foetal organ trafficking organised by Planned Parenthood (see Family Planning: A company at the heart of the sale of the organs of aborted children).
[1] Food and Drug Administration.
Aleteia, JP Mauro (25/09/2018)