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Health Care Analysis
Published in: Health Care Analysis 3/2010

01-09-2010 | Original Article

Ethical Aspects of the Use of Stem Cell Derived Gametes for Reproduction

Authors: Heidi Mertes, Guido Pennings

Published in: Health Care Analysis | Issue 3/2010

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Abstract

A lot of interest has been generated by the possibility of deriving gametes from embryonic stem cells and bone marrow stem cells. These stem cell derived gametes may become useful for research and for the treatment of infertility. In this article we consider prospectively the ethical issues that will arise if stem cell derived gametes are used in the clinic, making a distinction between concerns that only apply to embryonic stem cell derived gametes and concerns that are also relevant for gametes derived from adult stem cells. At present, it appears preferable to use non-embryonic stem cells for the derivation of gametes. Adult stem cell derived gametes do not present any problems with regard to the moral status of the human embryo, bypass the safety risks linked to SCNT and do not present any ambiguity or novel problems with regard to informed consent, psychological consequences for the child or genetic parenthood. A remaining ethical concern, however, regards the safety of the procedure in terms of the welfare of the resulting children. This should spark a thorough reflection on how far one must go to accommodate a person’s wish to have a genetically related child.
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Metadata
Title
Ethical Aspects of the Use of Stem Cell Derived Gametes for Reproduction
Authors
Heidi Mertes
Guido Pennings
Publication date
01-09-2010
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Health Care Analysis / Issue 3/2010
Print ISSN: 1065-3058
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3394
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-009-0136-x

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