Editorial: Medical research in need of debate

Friday, Sept. 1, 2000 | 9:25 a.m.

Medical discoveries in the past century not only have eliminated deadly diseases, but they also have prolonged man's life span. Recent scientific advances, though, have left many wondering if some are inappropriate.

Earlier this week Pope John Paul II, offering moral guidelines on controversial new areas of scientific research, condemned human cloning and experiments on embryos. Whether you agree with the pope or not, the fact remains that there has been scant debate in this nation as to what these advances might unleash -- both ethically and medically.

There are scientists who balk at the government restricting any aspect of their research. But even scientific research must have a moral foundation -- it also should be grounded in ethics and laws. Before it's too late -- and we've already headed down an irreversible path -- there must be a genuine public debate over what research, quite simply, is beyond the pale.

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