WHO ADOPTS RESOLUTION AGAINST CLONING HUMANS

May 16, 1997

GENEVA (Reuter) - The World Health Organization adopted a resolution at its Fiftieth World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva this past week that "...the use of cloning for the replication of human individuals is ethically unacceptable and contrary to human integrity and morality," according to a WHO press release.

According to the release, the resolution recognizes the necessity of ensuring the continuation of "ethically acceptable" scientific activity. But members of the World Health Assembly write that developments in cloning and genetic procedures need to be "...carefully monitored and assessed, and the rights and dignity of patients respected."

In March, following the cloning of an adult sheep, Dr. Hiroshi Nakajima, director-general of WHO, said that human cloning "...would violate some of the basic principles which govern medically assisted procreation, including respect for the dignity of the human being and protection of the security of human genetic material."

The resolution requests that the director-general take the lead in clarifying and assessing the implications of human cloning. It also requests that the director-general consult with other international organizations to consider related legal aspects and report to the Executive Board at its January 1998 session, and the next World Health Assembly in May 1998, on the outcome of the assessments.