WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said Wednesday it is ending medical research by government scientists using human fetal tissue, a victory for abortion foes that comes despite impassioned pleas from scientists that some health problems can’t be studied any other way.
Research using fetal tissue that otherwise would be discarded has been funded by the government, under leadership of both political parties, for decades — and has led to life-saving advances including development of vaccines for rubella and rabies, and drugs for the HIV virus.
Officials said government-sponsored research by universities will be allowed to continue, subject to additional scrutiny.
But ongoing research at the National Institutes of Health involving fetal tissue from elective abortion would not be allowed to proceed.
