Abstract
This report investigates and discuss the ethical and legal issues surrounding the use of stem cells in research and therapy with the aims of providing recommendation to company ABC as to the best type of stem cell to use in their new gene therapy techniques for treating Zika virus and the ethical issues they should consider when conducting further research
The finding of the report shows those ethical and legal issues a in regard to the use of stem cell in research are primarily based on type of stem cells, the purpose for which they are used and the technique used to obtain them. Non-embryonic stem cells do not raise many ethical and legal issues like the embryonic stem cells. In regard to embryonic stem cells there are those who term research using them as unethical simply because they lead to destruction of potential human life. They are those who consider it ethical due to the potential it has in finding cure to diseases and disability.
In term of legal issues, they are countries that fully support stem cells research including creating embryo for research purpose. Other such as Australia partially supports stem cell research while other is more restrictive.
Based on the above finding, the paper provides several recommendations to company ABC. These including;
· Using embryonic stem cells in it therapies since it is more effective that other. However, they should use only embryo that are less that 14 days old. They should also use alternative and merging method of extracting stem cells from embryo without destroying it.
· Should sources their embryo from excess IVF when conducting further research but the written consent of donor must be obtain and their confidentiality maintained.
· If they chose to create embryo for research purpose, they must ensure the country in which they conduct the research allow creation of embryo for that purpose.
· They should consider establishing their laboratories in countries that have legal frameworks than is in support of stem cell research