What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8)
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Patron: The Rt Hon Lord Mackay of Clashfern |
President: The Hon Mr Justice Hedley |
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Founded 1852 |
Registered Charity No 1017695 |
PRESS RELEASE – 21st May 2005
NEWCASTLE SCIENTISTS CLONE THEIR FIRST HUMAN EMBRYO DESPITE LEGAL CHALLENGE TO LEGALITY OF LICENCE AND UN BAN ON HUMAN CLONING
After 10 months of research, scientists at the Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life led by Professor Alison Murdoch announced on Thursday that they have successfully created their first human clones.
They were awarded a licence by the UK fertility watchdog, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (the “HFEA”) last August.
However, an application for judicial review of the licence was lodged with the High Court on the grounds that the HFEA had unlawfully withheld information about the licence and that the licence was unlawfully granted and was invalid from the start. The judicial review was brought last November in the name of Peng Voong, who works as Public Policy Analyst for the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship (LCF).
This January, the High Court allowed the legal challenge to proceed to a hearing. A date is expected to be set down shortly. If the High Court accepts Mr Voong’s arguments, it will revoke the licence and rule that the activities of the Newcastle scientists were unlawful from the beginning.
Earlier this year, the United Nations voted in favour of banning all forms of human cloning.
Commented Andrea Williams, Barrister and Public Policy Officer of the LCF:
“It is a matter of serious concern that despite the UN ban on human cloning, the legal challenge by Peng Voong and the level of controversy surrounding cloning research Professor Murdoch and her team continued with the project. We are hopeful that the High Court will appreciate the serious implications of what Professor Murdoch has done as it strikes at the heart of our humanity and our respect for life and human dignity.”
Media enquiries:
Andrea Williams
LCF Public Policy Officer
+44 (0)771 2591164
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Lawyers Christian Fellowship: The LCF has 1700 members and works to encourage and equip Christian lawyers to be effective in their life and work, and to promote Christian principles within the UK legal system.
Andrea Minichiello Williams
LCF Public Policy Officer
0771 2591164