Open AccessA New Era in the Ethics of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Author(s) -
Lo Bernard,
Zettler Patricia,
Cedars Marcelle I.,
Gates Elena,
Kriegstein Arnold R.,
Oberman Michelle,
Reijo Pera Renee,
Wagner Richard M.,
Wuerth Mary T.,
Wolf Leslie E.,
Yamamoto Keith R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1634/stemcells.2005-0324
Subject(s) - transplantation , embryonic stem cell , clinical trial , informed consent , ethical issues , engineering ethics , donation , biology , bioinformatics , law , medicine , political science , alternative medicine , pathology , genetics , gene , engineering
Scientific progress in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research and increased funding make it imperative to look ahead to the ethical issues generated by the expected use of hESCs for transplantation. Several issues should be addressed now, even though phase I clinical trials of hESC transplantation are still in the future. To minimize the risk of hESC transplantation, donors of materials used to derive hESC lines will need to be recontacted to update their medical history and screening. Because of privacy concerns, such recontact needs to be discussed and agreed to at the time of donation, before new hESC lines are derived. Informed consent for phase I clinical trials of hESC transplantation also raises ethical concerns. In previous phase I trials of highly innovative interventions, allegations that trial participants had not really understood the risk and benefits caused delays in subsequent trials. Thus, researchers should consider what information needs to be discussed during the consent process for hESC clinical trials and how to verify that participants have a realistic understanding of the study. Lack of attention to the special ethical concerns raised by clinical trials of hESC transplantation and their implications for the derivation of new hESC lines may undermine or delay progress toward stem cell therapies.