In recent weeks and months, the media has featured news on the much-debated Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that is currently going through Parliament. But what is all the fuss about?
Stem cell research offers enormous potential to deliver new treatments for many diseases for which there are currently no effective cures, such as chronic heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. Part of this research relies on the use of human embryos – but these are in short supply and scientists have developed a technique where a nucleus is taken from a human cell and is injected into an animal cell which has had its nucleus removed. This creates a hybrid embryo, which can then be used for medical research. This is a controversial area of science and raises some profound moral and ethical issues.
In late 2006, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) contacted Sciencewise to start a dialogue process to find out what the public felt about the issue. After a series of engagement events and research it was clear that the public saw the benefits of the research and was willing to allow it, but only if subject to strict regulations.
The main impact of the dialogue on policy was that it helped to determine the HFEA’s policy on the creation of human-animal embryos for research purposes. After careful consideration of all the evidence gathered, the HFEA decided that this type of hybrid research should be allowed in principle but should be tightly regulated.
Click here to read more about this dialogue process, and here for more information on the decision made by the HFEA.
Posted on 16/05/2008 by Sciencewise
