• Question: How do you think personally, the legal system and scientists can regulate and control emborynnic stem cell research globally?

    Asked by karine to James, Jayne, Sharon on 24 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Sharon Sneddon

      Sharon Sneddon answered on 24 Mar 2011:

      HI Karine,
      Good question, and a hard one as I don’t really know the answer. In this country, we are regulated by a govenment body called the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and it’s up to them to decide what embryonic stem cell research is permitted in the UK. Its a tightly regulated system and all research has to be approved by the HFEA, and it’s ethics committee before we can start work and apply for local ethics approval. Most scientists I know think it’s a good system and I certainly have never had any problems with it. A few european countries have adopted a similar system, but globally the rules and regulations vary enormously, so for example, in Italy, it is very tightly regulated, but in Korea, less so.
      I think it’s up to scientists in all countries to work as ethically as possible and hopefully all countries will have a legal system that will make sure things are done properly, without hampering research. I’m not sure how easy this will be though!

      Hope that answers your question!

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