( New survey shows more than half of infe...)Infertile Voice Supports Stem Cell Research: RESOLVE Calls for,Patient Options in Using Frozen Embryos,Health

BETHESDA, Md., June 20, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association issued the following statement today, in anticipation of President Bush's veto of federal legislation that would loosen current limitations on stem cell research:

"President Bush is choosing to ignore the potential life-saving gift the infertility community is willing to give to support stem cell research - the gift of unused embryos to advance science and to help develop treatments for diseases such as cancer, diabetes and other debilitating illnesses," said Barbara Collura, Executive Director of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.

A recent survey of over two thousand infertile women and men with unused frozen embryos as a result of infertility treatment revealed that 60 percent would likely donate their unused embryos for stem cell research. According to Duke University Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University researchers who conducted the survey, these findings suggest that there may be upwards of 100,000 frozen embryos that could be made available for research.

"When faced with the highly emotional decision to either destroy unused embryos, donate them to another infertile couple or donate them to research, for the majority of infertile women and men, the option to donate their embryos to advance research and benefit society is the preferred choice," Collura added. "We applaud Duke and Johns Hopkins for bringing forth the patient voice in this debate. The message is loud and clear. Donating unused embryos for stem cell research is an option that should be given to infertile women and men."

"RESOLVE further believes that infertility patients should be free from interference in making the very personal decision about the uses of their own body tissues, including reproduct
'"/>