The ethical use of fetal tissue for transplantation and research

The exercise of organ and tissue transplantation is a common occurrence in our society. Expectations of future advances in this arena are raising many ethical, moral and public-policy questions. The scientific data base supporting the usefulness of fetal tissue to repair or reverse disease is modest, and uses are speculative. Should fetal tissue transplantation research proceed and, if so, under what conditions? This paper examines the issues related to the use and procurement of fetal tissue for research and transplantation.