A legislative bill that would limit fetal-tissue research at UNMC — as well as limit the ability of Nebraskans to receive benefits of future medical research — stalled Wednesday for the third year in a row.
Lawmakers were unable to stop a debate on LB 462. A motion to end debate on the bill failed with a 29-18 vote. Thirty-three votes were needed to end debate. It is unlikely the bill will be scheduled again this year.
“We’d like to thank the senators who recognized the bill’s shortcomings and the countless Nebraskans who expressed their support of the research,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “Continuing this research has life-saving potential for people with devastating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and HIV-related dementia,” he said.
Sponsored by state Sen. Dwite Pedersen of Elkhorn, LB 462 sought to end the use of fetal tissue from elective abortions in research or patient care in Nebraska. The bill, which was introduced in the 2001 Legislative session, was bracketed, or delayed until this session.
“The bill would not only stop the potential life-saving research, but also would have dire consequences with respect to medical treatment, banning the use of human fetal tissue,” said Robert Bartee, executive assistant to the chancellor at UNMC.
If such a bill were enacted and a cure for multiple sclerosis or juvenile diabetes was developed in another state through research using fetal cells obtained from an elective abortion, Nebraskans would be denied access to the cure at public institutions in Nebraska, including county hospitals, public health clinics and veterans homes, Bartee said.
Through its efforts to find alternative sources to fetal tissue, UNMC has reduced by more than 40 percent the amount of fetal tissue it uses for its research. UNMC no longer uses a local source for its fetal cells. Scientists continue to work to find ways to get the needed cells from sources such as rapid brain autopsies, Bartee said.
The following 18 senators showed support for the research by voting for further debate: Chris Beutler of Lincoln, Patrick Bourne of Omaha, Curt Bromm of Wahoo, Pam Brown of Omaha, Dennis Byars of Beatrice, Ernie Chambers of Omaha, Matt Connealy of Decatur, George Coordsen of Hebron, Carol Hudkins of Malcolm, Ray Janssen of Nickerson, David Landis of Lincoln, Don Pederson of North Platte, Marian Price of Lincoln, Ron Raikes of Lincoln, DiAnna Schimek of Lincoln, Nancy Thompson of Papillion, Roger Wehrbein of Plattsmouth and Bob Wickersham of Harrison. Those not voting, but indicating their opposition to the bill were: Lowen Kruse and Deborah Suttle, both of Omaha.