Gingrich calls for fertility clinics ethics commission

LUTZ, FL.–GOP White House hopeful Newt Gingrich on Sunday called for the creation of a commission to study the ethics of fertility clinics.

He made his comment after taking a question about stem cell research, speaking at a press conference outside the Idlewild Baptist Church here, which celebrated “Sanctity of Life Sunday” at services Gingrich attended with his wife, Calista.

Gingrich, who is courting the anti-abortion vote here–and slamming chief rival Mitt Romney for his one-time support of abortion rights, said “life begins at conception.”

He said he is not against in vitro fertilization; the issue has to do with fertility clinic implantations. Does life begin then–or if a pregnancy results.

Gingrich said he was concerned about what happens to embyros in fertility clinics. “I would favor a commission to look seriously at the ethics of how we manage fertility clinics.”

“…If you have in vitro fertilization, you are creating life; and therefore, we should look seriously at what should the rules should be for clinics that do that, because they are creating life.”