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Our cells/ourselves: creating human embryos for stem cell research
1Department of Bioethics Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Summary
The National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) report recommends federal funding for human stem cell research. However, it omits discussion on ethical issues regarding research-created embryos, despite promising public debate.
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- Biomedical Research Policy
Background:
- The National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) released "Ethical issues in human stem cell research" in September 1999.
- The report addresses federal funding for human stem cell research, particularly concerning human embryos.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the NBAC's recommendations on federal funding for human stem cell research with those of the National Institutes of Health's Human Embryo Research Panel from five years prior.
- To critically evaluate the NBAC report's approach to ethical considerations in human stem cell research, specifically regarding the use of embryos created for research.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of NBAC and NIH Human Embryo Research Panel recommendations.
- Critical review of the NBAC report's ethical discussions and omissions.
Main Results:
- The NBAC's recommendations are considered better structured for achieving federal funding compared to the NIH panel's.
- The NBAC report is noted for its lack of substantive ethical discussion concerning the future use of embryos created solely for research purposes.
Conclusions:
- The NBAC report's packaging of recommendations is effective for advancing federal funding for stem cell research.
- A significant ethical gap exists in the NBAC report due to its silence on the implications of using research-created embryos, undermining its stated goal of promoting public debate.