Ethics

Question 1

What is the scientific moral status of a pre-implantation embryo?

Answer 1

• Not concious (can’t feel anything)

- ‘Just a ball of cells’

Question 2

What is the catholic moral status of a pre-implantation embryo?

Answer 2

• Can’t judge the status by developmental stage
• Has potential to be a human, therefore should have human status
• Special duty to protect the most venerable

Question 3

What is the UK legislation on stem cell research?

Answer 3

• Limits research to 14 days post fertilisation or up to when the primitive streak appears
• No one should undertake research on human embryos if it could be achieved by the use of animals in some other way

Question 4

What do HFEA do?

Answer 4

• Regulate the creation and use of embryos for IVF

- Regulate the use of human gametes and embyos for both clinical use (IVF) and research

Question 5

What are the 3 ways of generating stem cells?

Answer 5

1) IVF
2) Cloning
3) Somatic cells (iPSC)

Question 6

In the UK is it allowed to create embryos for ES cell derivation?

Answer 6

Yes, but this is unusual

Question 7

What are the new ethical challenges in stem cell research?

Answer 7

• Is it acceptable to make gametes fro PSCs?
• Should a man be able to clone himself to make sperm fro IVF?
• Should we allow PSCs to be used for testing drugs and cosmetics?

Question 8

What is ‘beneficence’?

Answer 8

• Physician-centered decisions

- To benefit

Question 9

What is ‘non-maleficence’?

Answer 9

First do no harm

Question 10

What is ‘automony’?

Answer 10

Patients right to self-determination

Question 11

What is ‘justice’?

Answer 11

Fairness

Question 12

What are the possible points of disagreement?

Answer 12

1) Source of cells
- Destroying lives?

2) Source of funding
- Should people pay who object?

3) Autonomy
4) Respect for ‘life
5) Definition of ‘life’

Question 13

What is an organoid?

Answer 13

• An artificially grown mass of cells or tissue that resembles an organ
• But poorly represents the organ