Majority of Americans favor embryonic stem-cell research, disapproves strongly of human cloning, VCU Life Science survey shows

By Anne Buckley

RICHMOND, Va. (Oct. 13, 2004) – A slight majority of Americans favors embryonic stem cell research, while an increasing number opposes human cloning, according to a national survey released Wednesday by Virginia Commonwealth University.

Overall, a majority of Americans — 53 percent — now strongly or somewhat strongly favors stem cell research, up from 47 percent in the 2003 poll, according to the fourth annual VCU Life Sciences Survey. Now, 36 percent strongly or somewhat opposes stem cell research, down from 44 percent the previous year. Views on stem cell research continue to be related to views on abortion and on the Bible.

The VCU Life Sciences Survey was conducted by telephone with 1004 adults nationwide, Sept. 7 through Sept. 17, 2004. The margin of error for the poll is plus or minus 3 percentage points. The survey was conducted by the VCU Center for Public Policy.

The survey also showed that Americans are increasingly opposed to human cloning, even under limited conditions. In addition, the survey found that Americans continue to see clear benefits to society from new developments in science and medicine, but at the same time are concerned about the privacy of their health information.

The idea of human cloning elicited strong opposition among the American public. Eighty-three percent of respondents were either somewhat or strongly opposed to cloning and most were strongly opposed to it. Thirteen percent favored human cloning.

Less opposition was found for cloning if it is limited to research for the treatment of disease, according to the survey. Under these conditions, 56 percent of respondents were opposed, while 42 percent were in favor. However, the percentage of respondents opposed to this limited use of cloning has increased compared with the percentage in the 2003 VCU Life Sciences Survey, when 48 percent were opposed, and 50 percent were in favor.

The survey showed that Americans are largely in agreement that science and technology have helped make society better. Ninety percent reported that developments in science have helped to make society better, and 88 percent said the same thing about new technology.

While Americans strongly endorse the societal benefits of science, they also expressed ambivalence about the role of science in society. About six in ten, or 61 percent, agreed that scientific research doesn’t pay enough attention to the moral values of society, and 51 percent said scientific research has created as many problems for society as solutions. These results were consistent with results from three previous VCU Life Sciences Surveys.

The survey also found that Americans were concerned about privacy regarding health information and the results of genetic testing.

Three-fourths, or 76 percent, were either very concerned or somewhat concerned about their ability to keep health and medical information private, while 78 percent were very concerned or somewhat concerned about their ability to keep results of their genetic testing private.

Americans also expressed concern about the decisions that employers and insurance companies will make if they have access to genetic testing results.

The poll and its methodology are to be posted online at www.vcu.edu on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004.