ST. JOHN’S LAW
SCHOOL TO HOST BIOETHICS SYMPOSIUM
(JAMAICA, NEW
YORK) The St. John’s University School of Law will host a panel of
pre-eminent attorneys, scientists, and ethicists on February 25th to
address legal and ethical issues emerging in new fields of biological
research and reproductive technologies.
The Symposium,
entitled Engineering Eden: Investigating
the Legal &Ethical Dilemmas
of Modern Biotechnology, is the twelfth annual event of
the ST. JOHN’SJOURNAL OF LEGAL COMMENTARY. The
Symposium will begin at 9 a.m. and last until 2
p.m. at the Law
School campus in Queens. A continental breakfast and formal lunch
willbe served.
The Symposium
will feature remarks by nationally-recognized scholars and
authors. Panelists include: Dr. Joylon Jesty of Stony Brook
University, Michael B. Losow, Esq. ofthe Biotechnology Industry
Organization, ethicist Rev. Philip Cato, Professor Lawrence Roberge of
Goodwin College, author Wesley Smith, and John D. Murnane, President of
the New York
Intellectual Property Association. The panel will be moderated by
Dr.Diana Bartelt of St. John’s University.
Attendance to the
Panel Remarks is free to the public, and all are welcome to attend.
Formore information, please contact Nancy Brady, Manager of Special
Events, at Tel: (718) 990-1946.
Press Release
ROBERGE WARNS OF TECHNOLOGIES TO CIRCUMVENT HUMAN CLONING LAWS
(QUEENS, NY)- February 27, 2005- Professor Lawrence Roberge warned that
methods to perform human cloning and the rise of artificial womb
technologies could allow for a legal bypass to laws banning human
cloning. Professor Roberge presented in a talk entitled, Cloning:
Scientific, Technological, and Ethical Considerations, that cloning
techniques such as using cows eggs for human cloning and splitting
human embryos could bypass present bills and legislation to ban human
cloning. Furthermore, Professor Roberge warned that artificial womb
technology, presently under development, could be used for reproductive
human cloning as well as cultivation of human clones for further
biomedical experimentation.
The onset of artificial womb technology, Roberge warns, would allow
cultivation of clones as long as they develop outside of a human womb.
Furthermore, artificial wombs could also be used to justify
discrimination against human clones in the future. Since artificial
womb technology is presently in development, Roberge thinks human
clones maybe used as expendable test subjects for the perfection of
this technology.
Professor Roberge’s presentation was part of a day long symposium by
the St. John’s University Law School’s Journal of Legal Commentary.
(NOTE: a copy of the Symposium’s press release is enclosed). The
symposium entitled: Engineering Eden: Investigating the Legal &
Ethical Dilemmas of Modern Bioengineering, occurred on Friday, February
25 and brought together selected experts to discuss legal and ethical
issues of biotechnology.
Professor Roberge is an associate professor and chair of the science
department at Goodwin College (East Hartford, CT). He teaches Anatomy
& Physiology, Chemistry, and Microbiology courses to nursing
students. He is a member of the World Future Society, American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the Center for
Bioethics and Human Dignity. Professor Roberge has written and
researched on such topics as cloning, reproductive technology,
abortion, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.
Roberge has been considered by some a visionary in some of his research
and writings. In 1996, Professor Roberge warned of the medical health
hazards of the abortion drug, RU-486. Roberge has also written on the
adverse medical effects of abortion. He is the author of the book, The
Cost of Abortion
(Four Winds Press, 1995).
Professor Roberge resides in Ludlow, MA with his wife, Cynthia.
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EDITORS NOTE: Contact Professor Roberge at 413-547-8448