Congress agrees to ban patenting, marketing of humans

Published: 2003-11-26

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Following a cardinal's plea for approval of the "common-sense" amendment, members of Congress agreed to a provision that would bar the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from granting patents for human organisms. The agreement reached Nov. 24 was announced by Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., a medical doctor who sponsored the amendment to an omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2004. Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, said in a Nov. 18 letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., that Weldon's amendment reaffirms an internal policy that has guided the patent office since 1987, "reflecting a common-sense understanding that no member of the human race at any stage of development is merely an 'invention' or property to be licensed, bought and sold." "Tragically, some researchers want to patent and market human embryos with certain genetic profiles as 'models' for studying diseases with genetic roots," the cardinal wrote. The amendment bans patents for genetically engineered human embryos, fetuses and human beings, but would not affect patents on genes, cells, tissue and other biological products.

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .