UW Researchers Using Aborted Babies; Grothman Wants to Know More
Along with the unwelcome news that the Madison Surgery Center is considering the performance of late second-trimester abortions come allegations that UW is using aborted babies for research.
Allegations or reality? A January 7, 2009 Wisconsin State Journal article states: “Tissue from the abortions could be used by UW-Madison researchers but only after review by a faculty committee, Brunette said.” Lisa Brunette is the UW Hospital spokeswoman.
The issue of using aborted babies for research has a long history. In 1989, Nathan Geraths, Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Madison, responded to an inquiry from Congressman Tom Petri on this issue. Geraths said about disposal of aborted babies: “Autopsies and various investigative studies are performed in this suite, including genetic developmental investigations by the University on fetuses and aborted infants.”
In 1990, Jay Noren, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, stated in a letter to Rep. Wayne Wood that: “There are three ongoing research projects at UW-Madison involving use of some tissue from abortuses. One is an internally-funded project which uses fetal pituitary tissue to study hormone regulation. Another is a federally-funded project which uses fetal pituitary tissue to study diabetes. A third study, not funded, involves anatomical study of deceased newborns, deceased older children and an occasional fetus which have multiple congenital anomalies.”
Enter right-to-life champ Senator Glenn Grothman who sent out a news release calling upon the University of Wisconsin and the UW Hospital to immediately stop any plans to use the Madison Surgery Center for the performance of late second-trimester abortions. Grothman also calls on the University to put the “rumor” about using the babies for research purposes to rest if it is not true. Senator Grothman — odds are that it is very true, given the statement by their own spokeswoman and the callous disregard for embryonic and unborn human life which exists at our “prestigious” university and its research center.
Barbara Lyons