Georgia Adult Stem Cell Research Bill Gets Governor Perdue’s Signature

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   May 24, 2007   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Georgia Adult Stem Cell Research Bill Gets Governor Perdue’s Signature Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 24
, 2007

Atlanta, GA (LifeNews.com) — Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue tickled pro-life advocates in the Peach State for the second day in a row on Thursday when he signed a bill promoting adult stem cell research into law. His signature came just one day after he signed a bill on abortions allowing women to see ultrasounds of their unborn children.

The measure, SB 148, is known as the Saving the Cure Act and it encourages ethical research involving stem cells from the umbilical cord, placental tissue and amniotic fluid.

SB 148 also calls for the universal collection of postnatal tissue and fluid for medical research and treatment.

During the legislative process, the bill received bipartisan support in both chambers, with a 39-15 vote in the Senate and 158-0 in the House. In a statement to LifeNews.com, Georgia Right to Life credited Senator David Shafer and Representative Tom Rice for spearheading the bill through each chamber.

"With the passage of SB 148, Georgia immediately emerges as a national leader in ethical stem cell research," the group told LifeNews.com.

"Governor Perdue’s signature signals that Georgia wants to create an environment where stem cells are widely available from sources other than the human embryo and where collection of these stem cells will not result in the destruction of human life," GRTL said.

After the umbilical cord and other adult stem cell banks are established and a non-profit program created to promote them, physicians and hospitals would begin, in June 2009, a program to inform pregnant patients of the full range of options for donation of postnatal tissue and fluids.

The cells collected in the program would be available for scientific research and medical treatment and allows Georgia residents to see some tax benefits for their donations to the banks.

Pro-life advocates promote adult stem cell research as a more ethical and effective alternative to the use of embryonic stem cells, which have never cured any patients. Adult cells are known to have helped patients with at least 70 different diseases or conditions both in the United States and other nations.

The Saving the Cure Act will become effective on July 1, 2007.

Related web sites:
Georgia Right to Life – https://www.grtl.org
Gov. Sonny Perdue – https://www.gov.state.ga.us