Neural fetal tissue transplantation. Should we do what we can do?

The following factors are relevant to ethical considerations regarding fetal tissue transplantation for treatment of neurological disorders: the empirical status of human fetuses or abortuses, different purposes and sites of tissue retrieval or implantation, the therapeutic potential of the technique, the means through which tissue becomes available, possible motives, and possible donors and recipients of transplant tissue. After examining each of these, the author concludes that (1) only dead fetuses should be used as tissue sources, (2) decisions regarding abortion and transplantation should be kept separate, (3) anonymity between donor and recipient should be observed, and (4) buying and selling of fetal tissue should not be permitted.