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HITTING THE HEADLINES...
UNCAGED PROTEST AGAINST SUPPRESSION OF CRITICAL XENOTRANSPLANTION
REVIEW
 The
Scotland on Sunday newspaper has reported on Uncaged Campaigns' protests
over the Government's suppression of a critical independent review of
xenotransplantation.
The comprehensive review was produced by medical ethics experts at Glasgow
University. It had been commissioned by the Government's advisory authority
on xenotransplantation, UKXIRA, as part of its official deliberations
on the acceptability of the technology.
The academic review, a summary of which has been seen by Uncaged, identified
a number of unique and serious legal and ethical problems with pig organ
transplants, and seems to criticise implicitly the UKXIRA for lacking
the inclination to monitor the ethical acceptability of xenotransplantation.
Crucially, the review found that animals are being made to suffer and
are being killed for purely economic reasons. UKXIRA has refused, without
explanation, to publish the review, written by Professor Sheila McLean
and Dr Laura Williamson.
The unsubstantiated refusal by the UKXIRA to publish the report casts
a dark shadow over the authority's impartiality and independence. The
composition of the Authority is heavily biased in favour of industry,
with only one animal welfare representative. The lengthy review conducted
by McLean and Williamson was supposed to assist in the development of
xenotransplantation policy, but it appears that the policy has already
been agreed behind closed doors. The major issues concerning international
law and liability, public health, human rights and the moral status of
animals are thus being ignored as the Government's approach is dictated
by commercial interests.
Minister tries to cover up the cover-up
In an answer to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Liberal Democrat MP
Norman Baker, Department of Health Minister Rosie Winterton stated: "The
UKXIRA has considered the review and concluded that it made some useful
discussion points and that the summary of the research papers should be
published on the UKXIRA website." In fact, contrary to appearances,
what is to be published is a very brief summary of the papers that were
considered by McLean and Williamson - there are no plans as yet to publish
the authors' "useful discussion points".
Dan Lyons comments:
"The review raises profoundly difficult issues for the future
of xenotransplantation, but the Government is bent on sweeping them
under the carpet. This stifles open debate and reveals a dangerous,
biased and ill-informed policy. The Government is promoting the sacrifice
of animals and the public interest for the sake of short-term commercial
greed."
Related links:
Uncaged Campaigns 30.07.03 |
