Massachusetts Gov. Romney reiterates support for state's new embryonic stem cell research regulations

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) on Thursday said the state's newly adopted restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research are intended to prevent an "Orwellian" future, Reuters reports (Reuters, 8/31).

The Massachusetts Public Health Council on Tuesday adopted new regulations on embryonic stem cell research that Harvard University and several state research centers and hospitals say could expose scientists to criminal penalties for conducting certain research activities.

The new regulations affect a state law (SB 2039), which took effect after the state Legislature overrode a veto by Romney, that allows human cloning for research purposes and bans human cloning for the purpose of reproduction.

The regulations prohibit creating a fertilized embryo with only the intent of "using" the embryo, while the law prohibits creating fertilized embryos with only the intent of "donating" the embryo.

Opponents of the regulation said that the state Legislature did not intend for the change because the new prohibition applies to scientists.

Paul Cote, state public health commissioner, on Wednesday said that the new rules were created through an "active dialogue" with Romney's office and that the Department of Public Health was tasked with eliminating what Cote described as "loopholes" in the law (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/31).

Romney on Thursday said he believes that creating embryos for the purpose of research "crosses a very bright moral line to take sperm and egg in the laboratory and start creating human life" (Nichols/Ryan, Boston Globe, 9/1).

He added, "In laboratories, you could have trays of new embryos being created" (Johnson, AP/Metro West Daily News, 8/31).

Romney said he supports research on embryos taken from fertility clinics but not on cloned embryos research (Boston Globe, 9/1). B.D. Colen, a Harvard spokesperson, said the MPHC regulations are unnecessary, adding that Romney seems to be using the state health department to "accomplish what he was unable to accomplish through the legislative process" (AP/Metro West Daily News, 8/31).