Academic Review 2024

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To avoid further ethical controversy, the embryos that are being used must be handled with respect and care. This was made clear by Myriam Haltalli who is a Research Associate at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. I had an opportunity to speak with Haltalli regarding her research and the precautions taken in labs to ensure the work is carried out in an ethical manner. She stated that before the donated embryos are used in research labs, scientists go through many training sessions and inductions before they can carry out experiments to ensure they are aware of the importance of the work they are conducting. When using samples that have been donated for research, they keep very extensive records of all the details including the consent from the donors. Also, to maintain confidentiality they are not provided with the donors’ names, genders, etc. This puts the donors’ minds at ease and the transparency of the process allows people who may potentially want to consider embryo donation to feel comfortable with the research policies and conditions. Furthermore, to maintain integrity the National Institutes of Health in the United States created guidelines for human stem cell research in 2009 (Lo & Parham, 2009). The guidelines define embryonic stem cells and how they may be used in research and include recommendations relating to the donation of embryonic stem cells. The guidelines state embryonic stem cells from embryos created by in vitro fertilization should be used only when the embryo is no longer needed. Pluripotent stem cells can also be harvested from foetal tissue after abortion. However, the use of foetal tissue is ethically controversial because it is associated with abortion, which many people object to. Under US federal regulations, research with foetal tissue is permitted, but only if the donation of tissue for research is considered after the decision to terminate pregnancy has been made. This requirement minimises the possibility that a woman’s decision to terminate pregnancy might be influenced by the prospect of contributing tissue to research. Currently there is a phase 1 clinical trial in Batten’s disease, a lethal degenerative disease affecting children, using neural stem cells derived from foetal tissue (Shparberg, Glover, & Morris, 2019).

There is also the extreme stance taken by many ‘pro-life’ supporters who believe that embryonic stem cell research is non-justifiable and completely immoral. In the UK, the organisation ‘Right to Life’ has spoken openly about its opposition to embryonic stem cell cultivation practices, ‘Such practices constitute an unethical reduction … and ultimately leads to the total denial of their right to life. Similarly, medical practices are sometimes undertaken whereby human beings are created for the very purpose of their destruction in the accomplishment of medical practice that will benefit others. Both forms of embryo-destructive practice are unethical and contravene the dignity of human beings’ (Right To Life, 2021). On the other hand, the organisation does believe that the use of adult stem cells is ethically viable as it does not contribute to the death of a potential human life. Some believe this standpoint on embryo usage is not valid in the world of IVF treatments. In 2009 Duke University carried out a survey which concluded that 41% of patients who had finished IVF fertility treatment would seriously consider donating their embryos for stem cell research. The left-over embryos that are no longer needed by the donor would typically be discarded as only 16% said they would be willing to donate the unused embryos to another couple ( The Guardian , 2008). Stem cell research gives the embryo, which would have been wasted, a possibility to advance and help science which could eventually save lives in the future. It can be argued that the possibility that lives may be saved due to the research outweighs the negative ethical implications. An example of this is that the research being carried out on embryonic stem cells has the potential of reducing miscarriages so that more pregnancies can be successful with individualized treatments. This research is beneficial as up to 20% of pregnancies result in a miscarriage before the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. The research on the donated embryos will benefit the future of pregnancy and the health of foetuses.