Archived: WMA Resolution on Cloning

Adopted by the 147th Council Session Paris, France, May 1997,
endorsed by the 49th WMA General Assembly Hamburg, Germany, November 1997
and rescinded at the WMA General Assembly, Santiago 2005

Recognising that there have been recent developments in science leading to the cloning of a mammal, namely a sheep, and

because this raises the possibility of such cloning techniques being used in humans, in turn raising concern for the dignity of the human being and protection for the security of human genetic material,

the World Medical Association hereby calls on doctors engaged in research and other researchers to abstain voluntarily from participating in the cloning of human beings until the scientific, ethical and legal issues have been fully considered by doctors and scientists, and any necessary controls put in place.