Nicolas Rivron, Martin Pera, Janet Rossant, Alfonso Martinez Arias, and others
Nature
Originally posted December 12, 2018
Here are some excerpts:
Four questions
Future progress depends on addressing now the ethical and policy issues that could arise.
Ultimately, individual jurisdictions will need to formulate their own policies and regulations, reflecting their values and priorities. However, we urge funding bodies, along with scientific and medical societies, to start an international discussion as a first step. Bioethicists, scientists, clinicians, legal and regulatory specialists, patient advocates and other citizens could offer at least some consensus on an appropriate trajectory for the field.
Two outputs are needed. First, guidelines for researchers; second, a reliable source of information about the current state of the research, its possible trajectory, its potential medical benefits and the key ethical and policy issues it raises. Both guidelines and information should be disseminated to journalists, ethics committees, regulatory bodies and policymakers.
Four questions in particular need attention.
Should embryo models be treated legally and ethically as human embryos, now or in the future?
Which research applications involving human embryo models are ethically acceptable?
How far should attempts to develop an intact human embryo in a dish be allowed to proceed?
Does a modelled part of a human embryo have an ethical and legal status similar to that of a complete embryo?
The info is here.
