European perspectives on therapeutic cloning

If stem-cell research were allowed to develop further, advances in this field could ensure the treatment of numerous human diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, diabetes, and leukemia. A bank of stem-cell lines is currently being developed in Sweden. On the other hand, it is clear that the need to regulate the use of knowledge increases in proportion to the effect that knowledge has on society. With respect to human cloning, we need international rules that protect all people from potential abuse in all countries equally (with special emphasis on and awareness of people in an economically, politically, or environmentally disadvantaged position). To achieve such protection, this regulation must cover research and its applications in every region, independently of whether it is privately or publicly funded. In order for such a regulation to be more than yet another eloquent and toothless declaration, the rules must be backed up by an internationally representative body with the mandate to issue sanctions. A substantial challenge will be to prevent abuse and ensure protection without thereby hindering the science from developing sufficiently to fulfill its promise.