Christian Union leader furious with Maastricht hospital

Deputy Prime Minister André Rouvoet is furious at the decision by Maastricht Academic Hospital to continue screening embryos for the gene that causes breast cancer. In the television programme Nova, the Christian Union leader said that the matter should first be debated in the cabinet.

The Christian Democrats are also annoyed with the hospital’s decision. Christian Democrat MP Henk-Jan Ormel calls the decision a provocation. Last week Labour Party Deputy Health Minister Jet Bussemaker wrote in a letter to the Lower House that the hospital had permission for the gene research, but was forced to withdraw it on Friday under pressure from the Christian Union.

The hospital says it does not need any special permission, as it has been allowed to carry out gene research on embryos created in test tubes on a modest scale for several years.

Source: Radio Netherlands, 3 June 2008