Petition alleges University of Minnesota broke state fetal tissue laws

A right-to-life advocacy group have filed a petition with the Hennepin County District Court, alleging the Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota violated university bylaws and state laws by condoning the use of fetal tissue for research purposes, according to CBS Minnesota.

Minneapolis-based Minnesota Family Council filed a petition with the district court on Oct. 20, stating that the university violated a 1987 state law by circumventing the state's fetal disposal law by purchasing tissue from out of state, according to the article.

The petition reportedly includes evidence of university purchase orders for fetal tissue from a lab in California.

Recently revised university policy on fetal tissue research bans payment for anything other than the "shipping, preservation and processing costs of that tissue," according to the article. It also states that university researchers are banned from using fetal tissue from aborted fetuses and that any fetal tissue research must first be reviewed by an independent review board.

University officials refused to comment on CBS Minnesota's report, but said in a written statement ,"The University's Board of Regents and administration…obtained a thorough legal analysis of whether the University can conduct research utilizing fetal tissue in compliance with state and federal law. This included a review from independent, external counsel affirming that it does," according to the article.

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