An anti-abortion leader has expressed doubt that the University of Nebraska Medical Center will abandon its use of fetal tissue from elective abortions for research. Julie Schmit-Albin, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, said she applauds NU Regent Drew Miller's statement that, within a few months, all of the Medical Center's fetal tissue might come from miscarriages. Schmit-Albin said she questions whether that will happen. Anti-abortion groups will remain vigilant, she said. "Mr. Miller, just because you assure us that you're onto it, that doesn't mean we're going to go away," she said. The Medical Center has said that in the future it will obtain brain cells for its research to the extent possible from miscarriages, stillbirths and ectopic pregnancies. Those alternative sources would replace fetal tissue that the center now gets from Dr. LeRoy Carhart, a Bellevue abortion provider. Schmit-Albin's comments came in a letter to Miller in which she agreed in general to Miller's challenge to a public debate about the Medical Center's use of fetal tissue in research. Two other anti-abortion leaders, Bob Blank of Metro Right to Life and Larry Donlan of Rescue the Heartland, joined Schmit-Albin in generally accepting Miller's debate challenge. However, Schmit-Albin and Blank rejected Miller's suggestion that the group moderating the debate select a panel of Nebraskans to hear the debate and then recommend whether the research should continue. Donlan didn't address Miller's suggestion of a panel. Schmit-Albin also responded to Miller's earlier accusations that the anti-abortion leaders had "spread lies" and "disinformation and hatred." Schmit-Albin said she stands by her assertions that a meeting of NU regents in December "was greased" and filled with "vacuous spins" and "bait-and-switch techniques." She added: "I fail to see how my observations constitute 'lying' and 'spreading disinformation and hatred.' " The regents voted 7-0 in December to continue the Medical Center's research. They also supported efforts to develop sources of fetal tissue other than elective abortions for the research into Alzheimer's disease and AIDS-related dementia. In rejecting Miller's suggestion that a panel of Nebraskans recommend whether the research should continue, Blank said any judgment on who won the debate should be made by Nebraskans generally and not by "an elitist group of handpicked Nebraskans." Miller said he is pleased that the anti-abortion groups have agreed to a public debate. But he said he is disappointed that two groups have rejected the idea of the panel. He said he would try to arrange a meeting with anti-abortion leaders and would continue to press for the panel. Miller has suggested that a group such as the Nebraska Press Association should set up the debate.
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