Brazil Court To Decide On Embryonic Research

Decision on embryonic stem cell research in the world’s largest catholic country remains suspended as the supreme court judges of brazil, begin voting in favour and against, upholding the legislation allowing the use of human embryonic stem cells for research.

Despite many countries which have approved embryonic stem cell research, brazil became the first country to have legalized this concept in 2005. However, after the country’s chief prosecutor, put a question mark on the biotechnology law the same year, further research much to the dismay of the scientists has been put on hold.

If voting goes in favour of the legislation it would mean permission to research on stem cells obtained from embryos, considered useless for human reproduction, kept frozen for more than a period of three years, to be discarded eventually once the research is over.

The legislation which has generated large scale public interest is considered to be on a tight rope as of now with the balance expected to tilt any side. Out of the 11 judges in the voting panel, 8 have voted. Out of these 4 have supported the legislation and the other 4 have given their consent with restrictions. Final decision is however awaited on the issue.

The country has divided opinion on the issue and both view points hold strong arguments to support their stance.

The church groups find the research completely unethical and consider destroying them as going against the laws of nature. "Destroying, manipulating an embryo like an object to use the special powers of its cells isn't much different from selling children to use their organs for sick people," the Brazilian Conference of Bishops said.

The scientists on the other hand find it difficult to overlook the regenerative properties of the cells, useful in treating certain diseases like diabetes and also in organ repair.

"Brazil has big scientific potential in this area but we've fallen behind because of this legal instability," Debora Diniz, director of the International Association of Bioethics, told Reuters.

Out of the 25 nations that have approved embryonic stem cell research some are - Spain, Japan, Canada and Australia. It now remains to be seen which way the balance tilts in case of Brazil.