S-2009-02-2009_OVE

Handbook of WMA Policies
World Medical Association  S-2009-02-2009
WMA STATEMENT
ON
EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH
Adopted by the 60th
WMA General Assembly, New Delhi, India, October 2009
PREAMBLE
The field of stem cell research has been developing during the last decade and is now one
of the fastest growing areas of biotechnology.
Stem cells can be harvested from an established tissue (adult stem cell) or from the blood
of the umbilical cord and these sources, for many, create no specific ethical dilemma.
Stem cells can also be obtained from the embryo (embryonic stem cells). Obtaining and
using these stem cells raises specific ethical questions and is, for some, problematic.
Some legislatures have prohibited obtaining and using embryonic stem cells. Others have
allowed using so-called spare or excess embryos from assisted reproduction cycles for re-
search purposes, but often the production of embryos solely for research purposes is
prohibited. Many jurisdictions have no specific legislative provisions with respect to
embryonic stem cells.
The basis of legal and ethical consideration is that human embryos have a specific and
special ethical status. This has generated debate amongst ethicists, philosophers,
clinicians, scientists, health workers, the public and legislators.
Some assisted reproductive technology, specifically in vitro fertilisation, involves the
production of embryos outside of the human body. In many cases not all of these are
needed to achieve pregnancies. Those not used, so called “spare or excess embryos”, may
be donated for the treatment of others or for research or stored for some time and then
destroyed.
The differing legislative approaches to the use of embryos for research, may be reflected
in law prohibiting the public funding of such research.
Stem cells can be used to conduct research into human disease and basic developmental
biology. There are many current research programs investigating the use of stem cells to
treat human disease. Although clinical studies have not yet validated the use of stem cells
in therapy, the potential for therapeutic use in the future has been widely acknowledged by
members of the medical and scientific community.
It is too early to assess the likelihood of success in any specific therapy and the place of
stem cells amongst a variety of forms of treatments.
S-2009-02-2009 New Delhi
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Public views of stem cell research are at least as varied as those of doctors and
scientists. Much public debate centres on concerns of abuse of the technology as well as
specific concerns about the use of embryos.
Regulation according to established ethical principles is likely to alleviate concerns for
many members of the public, especially if associated with careful and credible policing of
the regulations.
RECOMMENDATION
Whenever possible research should be carried out using stem cells that are not of embryonic
origin. However, there will be circumstances where only embryonic stem cells will be
suitable for the research model.
All research on stem cells, regardless of their origin, must be carried out according to
agreed ethical principles. Regulation and legislation must also accord with these principles
to avoid confusion or conflicts between law and ethics.
The ethical principles should, where possible, follow international agreement. Recognising
that different groups have widely varying views on the use, especially, of embryonic stem
cells, these principles should be drafted to allow different jurisdictions to limit their allowed
levels of research as locally appropriate.
All and any research using embryos must only occur when written informed consent has
been obtained from both donors of the genetic material that created the embryo.