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The Ethical Options In Transplanting Fetal Tissue
Author(s) -
Mahowald Nary B.,
Silver Jerry,
Ratcheson Robert A.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
hastings center report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1552-146X
pISSN - 0093-0334
DOI - 10.2307/3562434
Subject(s) - legislation , abortion , autonomy , fetal tissue transplantation , transplantation , fetus , raising (metalworking) , medicine , bioethics , aborted fetus , intensive care medicine , pregnancy , law , surgery , political science , biology , engineering , mechanical engineering , genetics
Fetal tissue transplants have now been successful in primates, raising the possibility of treatment for Parkinson's disease and other chronic illnesses. Whether or not abortion is morally justified, use of human fetal tissue for research or therapy is justified in certain circumstances. The rationale, both for permitting transplantation of fetal tissue and for limitations in exercising the technology, is based on the same set of ethical principles that supported restrictive legislation in the past: respect for autonomy and a balancing of harms and benefits that gives priority to those most affected.