USA: CLONAID CLAIMS THE FIRST CLONED CHILD EXISTS IN ISRAEL

Record ID: 552007

  • Title: USA: CLONAID CLAIMS THE FIRST CLONED CHILD EXISTS IN ISRAEL
  • Date: 29th January 2003
  • Summary: (MUTE) WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RAELIAN WEBPAGE
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA AND WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Health,People,Science
  • Reuters ID: LVA95P9VMVJNZKBDDE51LL1BKQR2
  • Story Text: The president of a company that claims it produced the world's first cloned human told a Florida court under oath that the cloned child exists, but that the child, a girl named "Eve," is in Israel, not the United States.
    Clonaid caused an international stir last month by announcing that the clone had been born to an American mother on December 26. Clonaid was founded by the Raelians, a sect founded by a man named Rael. The Raelians believes mankind was created by extraterrestrials.
    Since that announcement, the group has claimed that two more cloned babies have been born, one born to a Dutch woman and one living in Japan.
    Scientists around the world believe Clonaid's announcement -- made at a hotel in Florida -- is a hoax aimed at making money, or garnering publicity for the Raelians.
    Clonaid has not produced any evidence of any babies, let alone evidence that they are clones.
    The hearing in Florida on Wednesday (January 29) stems from a petition filed by a Florida attorney, Bernard Siegel, who earlier this month asked the state court to appoint a guardian for "Eve," on the grounds that, if she is cloned, she could face serious medical problems.
    Lawyers representing Clonaid, Jonathan Schwartz and Barry Wax, argued that the case should be thrown out, saying that "Eve" has never been in Florida.
    Juvenile Court Judge John Frusciante, seeking to establish whether he would have jurisdiction in the case, called Brigitte Boisselier, representing Clonaid, and pressed her to confirm the existence and location of the child.
    "Ms. Boisselier, it's been alleged in the newsmedia that you have, your organization has in fact, established a human clone. And now, under oath, is that what you're saying, is that true? Yes or no?" Frusciante asked Boisselier.
    "Yes, this is correct," Boisselier said.
    Boisselier, who last week said she would cut off contact with the child's family so that, if asked, she could say she did not know where they were, was initially reluctant to say where the child was.
    "I can tell you that this individual is not in the United States and has never been in the United States," Boisselier said.
    But under persistent questions from Frusciante, Boisselier testified that the baby was in Israel and had never been in the United States. She also said she had never seen the child, but had seen videos of the baby girl.
    Clonaid had backed away from an earlier assertion it would do DNA testing on "Eve" after Siegel filed his petition, saying the parents feared the child might be taken from them.
    Questioned by Siegel, Boisselier said that the parents of the child had cut off contact with Boisselier last week to preserve the child's secrecy, because they were afraid, and Boisselier said she was not aware of the exact location of the child.
    Although Frusciante said he was sceptical of Ms.
    Boisselier's testimony, he said he had no jurisdiction and, therefore, would dismiss the case.
    "At this point, I will not give any more credibility to this situation than has already been given. It is this court's decision that I am without jurisdiction here in the state of Florida and, at this point, would dismiss the petition as presented before it," Frusciante told the courtroom.
    Frusciante lectured her about the practice of cloning, warning her that "you cannot claim to pursue the cloning of children with impunity." He also expressed concern for the child, saying that he hoped other courts would take an interest in ensuring the child is well cared for.
    "Whatever organization, whatever country, whatever court system is in the area of the child, I hope that they give that attention and concern to the child, if that child exists," he said.
    After the hearing, asked by reporters why she had waited so long to say that the child was in Israel, Boisselier had said it was at the family's request.
    "'Cause the parents didn't want to know where they were and that's their choice, but I followed the judge and I told him, that's it," Boisselier said.
    Siegel, who had filed the petition seeking the guardian, said he is satisfied that his legal efforts had at least produced sworn testimony that "Eve" exists.
    "I only hope that that child is going to be well-cared for, apparently the child exists, at least someone under oath says that it exists which is more than we had when we started," Siegel said.
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