Stem-Cell Research, Abortion and Big Business

07-30-2010 • The Real News

The long-lasting highly publicized raging debate concerning abortion in America and embryonic stem cell research has always been an issue shrouded deep within political, religious and scientific borders. Sentiments run deep between the scientific and religious communities, and most players in the political arena remain split down the middle, swaying heavily and forcefully to one side or the other. It's a topic which is often brought up, but rarely addressed. Well, it's time to raise the question, "Is Abortion big business, and if so is the scientific community involved?" We will begin this discussion with the Dickey Amendment (also known as the Dickey-Wicker Amendment) which was passed by Congress in 1995 and signed into law by Bill Clinton. The Dickey Amendment prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from using appropriated funds for the creation of human embryos for research purposes or for research in which human embryos are destroyed. This law was set in pla