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COPYRIGHT 2006 Health Law Institute
Introduction
In recent months, a number of national and international events have led to renewed interest in the ethical issues relevant to stem cell research (SCR). Some of the notable events include: the Korean egg donation and fabricated stem cell experiments/publication scandal, (1) the controversy over the use for research of donated fresh embryos created for reproductive purposes by Canadian stem cell researcher, Andras Nagy, (2) a recently published study on gaps in informed consent procedures in Canadian in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics, (3) and the current debate in the UK over altruistic egg donation for research purposes. (4) Most, if not all of these events, played out in the media and public eye, thereby generating more public debate and controversy in a field arguably considered the most socially controversial and divisive in biomedical research. More importantly, the relatively close proximity between these events has made it difficult for policymakers and researchers to keep pace with the issues. As Canadian researchers edge closer to the first stem cell clinical trials, (5) many would agree it is imperative to identify and examine the most salient and pressing ethical issues relevant to stem cell research.
This investigation is important for two reasons. First, identification and scholarly analysis of these issues will inform the direction of policy-making. Health Canada, the primary science policymaker and regulator, is currently reviewing regulations on a range of matters relating to controlled activities under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act (the Act). (6)
It seems axiomatic therefore that by focussing scholarly analysis on the most pressing and relevant ethical issues, ethics researchers are likely to play a significant role in the development of sustainable science policy.
Second, by focussing research on the most important issues, individuals that research ethical, legal and social issues in biomedical research (ELSI researchers) can provide ethical guidance to stem cell researchers. Such guidance is pivotal to the ethical conduct of translational research and maintenance of public trust in stem cell research.
In the following sections of this brief review piece, I identify and outline pressing ethical issues relevant to stem cell research as it moves towards clinical trials and applications. These issues are compiled from consultations with Canadian research ethics experts, stem cell researchers, ethics review board (REB) members, and policymakers, including those within Health Canada, the Department of Justice and the Stem Cell Oversight Committee. (7)
The methods of this study are as follows. Participants were sent email messages soliciting their ideas on what constitutes the most pressing research ethics issues relevant to stem cell translational research. Responses were collated and categorized under broad topic areas. The topics were then reviewed by a panel of experts through teleconference discussions.
Note that no attempt is made to analyze or examine these issues in any exhaustive detail as this is outside the possible scope of a single paper....
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