U.S. Split Over Stem Cell Research Funds

(Angus Reid Global Scan) Adults in the United States remain divided over the question of whether the government should fund scientific investigation with human embryos, according to a poll by International Communications Research released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. 47.8 per cent of respondents oppose using tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research.

Conversely, 38.6 per cent of respondents see no problem with these experiments.

Human stem cells come from embryos left over from in-vitro fertilization, which are habitually destroyed. These cells can develop into various tissues in the human body. Some scientists believe the research could be useful in the creation of new organs and in the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

In August 2001, U.S. president George W. Bush cited ethical questions in his rationale to ban federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. In a nationally televised statement, Bush said, "While were all hopeful about the potential of this research, no one can be certain that the science will live up to the hope it has generated."

In May 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 238-194 to allow federal funding for research performed on stem cells obtained from days-old embryos stored in fertility clinics. A second bill, which seeks to establish a national bank of blood products from umbilical cords available for research and treatment, passed after a 431-1 vote. The two proposed pieces of legislation must be reviewed by the Senate.

On May 24, Senate majority leader Bill Frist said he planned to discuss the matter upper house members soon, saying, "I am working with a construct to bring (the stem cell research bills) back to the floor this summer, which will allow everybodys views to be expressed."

Last year, Bush said he would veto any legislation if it entails "the use of federal money, taxpayers money, to promote science which destroys life in order to save lifeIm against that."

Polling Data

Stem cells are the basic cells from which all of a persons tissues and organs develop. Congress is considering the question of federal funding for experiments using stem cells from human embryos. The live embryos would be destroyed in their first week of development to obtain these cells. Do you support or oppose using your federal tax dollars for such experiments?

Support	38.6%
Oppose	47.8%
Dont know	11.9%
Refused	1.7%

Source: International Communications Research / U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,022 American adults, conducted from May 19 to May 23, 2006. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

Complete Poll (PDF)