Ethics of Regeneration - Elliot

Question 1

What are the “larger” questions raised by regeneration sciences?

Answer 1

• What is “normal” life? (What NEEDS to be fixed?)
• What is a normal life span?
• When are we moving from repair to enhancement?
• Who can have access to this science?

Question 2

What 3 ethical questions arise in reference to stem cells, creation/destruction of an embryo or fetus, bio-banking or using umbilical cord blood?

Answer 2

• Which are okay?
• When does life begin?
• Can life be ended to create therapeutic advantage?

Question 3

What three topics are important/controversial in research ethics?

Answer 3

• Research outcomes
  
  • What is success? (partial function vs full repair)
• Subject selection
  
  • emergency / early in injury
  • starts long-term relationship
• Informed consent
  
  • don’t know risks
  • unintended/unknown consequences
  • therapeutic misconception

Question 4

What has been responsible for the human condition in the past?

Answer 4

“Nature”

Question 5

Now what has an increasing role in decisions about the human condition?

Answer 5

“Human choice”

Question 6

What three institutional issues arise when referring to regenerative science and research?

Answer 6

• Research funding
  
  • federal limits
    
    • no public money with hES since 2006
    • cell lines limited to 61 from 2001
• Regulation of advances
  
  • FDA? Devices? Patents?
  • Need uniformity and stability
• Costs
  
  • who have access