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For Immediate Release: 
January 29, 2001 

CONTACT:
Sean Tipton
202-863-2494
stipton@asrm.org

ASRM Statement on Attempts at Human Cloning

Statement Attributable to Michael Soules, M.D.
President, American Society for Reproductive Medicine

“ASRM has stated many times that we oppose any effort to clone a human. In 1997 our organization took the lead by speaking out early against cloning and participating with other scientific groups in a voluntary five-year human cloning moratorium. Our ethics committee recently completed a careful report on the ethical issues raised by somatic cell nuclear cloning wherein we reiterated our opposition to any attempt to clone an existing or previously existing human being. We have done these things in an effort to make it clear that legitimate scientists who are engaged in actual infertility research are not and will not use this technology to clone a human being.

We strongly support further research into all aspects of infertility and reproductive medicine. Research can and often does lead to wonderful and completely unexpected findings. It is possible that we may learn something which theoretically could be used someday somewhere by someone to clone a human being. It is far more likely that research will lead to new ways to treat the millions of people who suffer from infertility. It is also likely that research involving human reproduction and the earliest stages of human development will lead us to cures for devastating conditions from diabetes to cancer.

We have been down this road before: an announcement is made of a attempt to start an effort to clone a human being and too many in the public, the media and even policy makers take such an announcement too seriously. Announcing such a project has nothing to do with practicing medicine and everything to do with generating headlines.”

ASRM, founded in 1944, has more than 8,500 members who are devoted to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive medicine and biology. ASRM-affiliate societies include the Society of Reproductive Surgeons, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology.

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