Maternal & Public Health Fetal Tissue, Stem Cells & Bioethics

Charlotte Lozier Institute Responds to Claim that Aborted Baby Parts Are Needed to Develop COVID-19 Treatment

Charlotte Lozier Institute

March 19, 2020

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Washington, D.C. – In response to news reports claiming that potential treatments for coronavirus will not be discovered unless the body parts of aborted children are used in experiments, the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) issued the following comment:

“Those who advocate experimentation using body parts harvested from aborted children are shamelessly exploiting the coronavirus pandemic, playing on people’s fears at a vulnerable time so that a select few can continue to use aborted fetal tissue in their research. The fact is that there are modern, successful alternatives available. Already, over 60 potential treatments are under investigation – none of which need aborted fetal tissue to fight coronavirus. Instead of wasting precious time listening to these dishonest claims, we should continue to focus our attention on successful, ethical alternatives that don’t require the exploitation of baby body parts, taxpayer dollars, and public sentiment that just wants a swift and compassionate end to this crisis.”

CLI’s scientific experts have previously criticized hyperbolic statements that misrepresent the facts on fetal tissue research.

In December 2018 CLI’s Vice President and Research Director Dr. David Prentice and Senior Fellow in Life Sciences Dr. Tara Sander Lee testified before Congress regarding the array of ethical alternatives to experiments using aborted baby parts.

Both are available for further comment and analysis on this topic. To request an interview, please contact me at [email protected].

Charlotte Lozier Institute was launched in 2011 as the education and research arm of Susan B. Anthony List. CLI is a hub for research and public policy analysis on some of the most pressing issues facing the United States and nations around the world. The Institute is named for a feminist physician known for her commitment to the sanctity of human life and equal career and educational opportunities for women.

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