Resolved, That the 74th General Convention recognize that God has
entrusted us to use our medical and other capabilities to work toward healing
and restoring creation where it has gone awry. Therefore, that the General
Convention set forth the following guidelines for genetic research and
interventions:
- It is morally acceptable, in principle, to engage in experimental
somatic cell human gene transfer for therapeutic purposes, in an effort to
treat or prevent disease.
- All experimental genetic interventions in human beings must meet
ethical standards of research, which require that investigators demonstrate the
scientific merit of their research, protect the health and welfare of human
volunteers, while ensuring their volunteers' choice to participate without
conflicts of interest or undue financial influence.
- Until there is strong scientific evidence that the use of germline
procedures is safe, effective, and stable across generations and that
guidelines have been established for their use before they are employed, we
should not consider the use of germline interventions in human beings.
- Ongoing public oversight of research into both somatic cell and
germline interventions, in both the public and private sectors, is essential.
Members of a federally appointed interdisciplinary review body should be chosen
by publicly accountable methods.
