The Dutch Stem Cell “Taboo”

In his “America Steps Forward on Stem Cell Funds … So What About Germany?: Der Tageszeitung, Germany,“ co-blogger William Kern gives a sampling of reactions to Obama’s decision to increase federal funding for stem cell research, and also of governmental stem cell research conditions and limitations in European countries.

One of those countries that are looking very closely at the U.S. decisions is the Netherlands.

Apparently, the Netherlands has had a law banning the creation of test tube embryos “solely for scientific research” since 2002.

In an article, “The Dutch Stem Cell Taboo,” translated at Watching America, the Dutch newspaper Handelsblad explains:

The decision by U.S. President Obama to resume federal funding for stem cell research, reminds one of the situation in the Netherlands where scientists in this field are handicapped for political and religious reasons. Unlike some other countries, including the U.S., the test tube creation of embryos solely for scientific research is prohibited in the Netherlands. The present government ratified this ban in 2007 in the Dutch government’s “coalition agreement.”

As a result, a situation that already existed when the “Paars” government [a previous Dutch “Purple” coalition government involving the PvdA, VVD and D66 political parties], was in power, has been perpetuated. The Embryo Law, which became effective in 2002, included a prohibition clause, but a rider was added that it could be quickly (via Royal Decree) repealed based on new scientific insights and understandings.

The article points out that the religious-leaning coalition government believes that the use of embryos “is only acceptable when it is directed towards contributing to the welfare of a new life.” In addition, that :

The fact that embryonic stem cells may possibly contribute to the cure or control of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Down Syndrome, Parkinson’s, and spinal chord injuries, and thus towards improving the quality of existing life, carries less weight for the supporters of the ban. The Netherlands, thus, has to rely, for its use of embryonic stem cells, on embryos left over after in vitro fertilization treatments.

But, as many Americans do, the Dutch also feel that there is hope in the fact that scientists have developed the techniques to genetically “reprogram” ordinary cells (such as cells extracted from human skin) to make them have the characteristics of embryonic stem cells. The resulting cell lines are called “induced pluripotent stem cells,” or iPS.

Such “adult stem cells” would not be considered under Dutch law to be covered by the Dutch “Embryo Law.” and the Dutch Health Minister has made available 22.4 million euros (about $29 million) available for the “Translational Adult Stem Cell Research” program.

Finally, according to the Handelsblad:

It remains to be seen what results this brings. In the meantime, one continues to hope that the ban on the development of embryos for scientific research will be off the table—so that -patients need not suffer unnecessarily long from diseases because of someone else’s religious beliefs.

Sounds familiar?

For the original Dutch version of “The Dutch Stem Cell Taboo,“ please click here.

Image: stemcell.ny.gov