Access

Published online 24 February 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/4571068a

News

Stem-cell inaction prompts concern

Legal complexities may underlie the delay in fulfilling election pledge.

Colorado congresswoman Diana DeGette had one message for President Barack Obama when she shook his hand on 17 February, moments after he signed the massive US economic stimulus bill into law. "I just looked at him and said: 'Mr President, just to reiterate my hope that you will sign an executive order reversing President Bush's ban on [human] embryonic stem-cell research'," says DeGette (Democrat).

Comments

Reader comments are usually moderated after posting. If you find something offensive or inappropriate, you can speed this process by clicking 'Report this comment' (or, if that doesn't work for you, email webadmin@nature.com). For more controversial topics, we reserve the right to moderate before comments are published.

  • I think this is the right time to push Obama. I have already sent Fax, e-mails and Phone call to the White House in the last days. I would like the all the Scientific community and anyone take care about it could do the same http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ Thanks

    • 24 Feb, 2009
    • Posted by: Carmine Federico
  • Some companies such as Advanced Cell Technologies are developing technologies that will enable the extraction of embryonic stem cells without the destruction of the embryo. I wonder if such technologies would be viewed more favorably?

    • 24 Feb, 2009
    • Posted by: Mark Meetsma