Fertilisation authority rules in favour of embryo selection for tissue donation
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《英国医生杂志》
The UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has given parents new powers to select embryos so that the baby created can become a tissue donor to an ill sibling.
The move relaxes regulations laid down by the authority in 2001 to govern preimplantation genetic diagnosis—rules that were widely criticised as inconsistent.
Before last week抯 decision tissue typing could be carried out only in cells that had already been taken from embryos for the purpose of testing for inherited diseases. The process was considered too invasive to be used more widely.
But Suzi Leather, the authority抯 chairwoman, said the authority was now more convinced of the safety of embryo biopsy and that parents will now be able to apply for permission to test embryos for tissue type alone.
She said, "Our review of the evidence available does not indicate that the procedure disadvantages resulting babies compared to other IVF babies. It also shows that the risks associated with sibling to sibling stem cell donation are low and that this treatment can benefit the whole family."
Professor Soren Holm, professorial fellow in bioethics at Cardiff University and director of the Cardiff Centre for Ethics, Law and Society, welcomed the move, saying the previous ruling was "untenable." He predicted further relaxation of the rules in the future.
"Although the authority will look at each case individually, I think it will be very difficult to restrict," he said. "If there is someone抯 brother or sister needing this who would otherwise die, it will be immensely difficult to say no. And I抦 sure in some years to come it could be a first cousin who needs help. What if one of the parents needs a transplant?"
One of the first children to benefit is likely to be Joshua Fletcher, aged two, who has Diamond-Blackfan anaemia. Neither his parents, from County Down, Northern Ireland, nor his brother are of the appropriate tissue type to become a stem cell donor.
The BMA was pleased by the authority抯 decision, which had been a policy of the association since 2002. A spokeswoman acknowledged that allowing embryos to be tested to save a seriously ill brother or sister was a complex issue.
She said, "It raises a number of ethical and moral concerns. The obvious one is that all children should be valued for themselves and not just as potential life savers for a brother or sister.
"However, the BMA believes if technology to help a dying or seriously ill child exists, without involving major risk for others, then it can only be right that it is used for this purpose."
Life, the pro-life charity, was "disappointed but not surprised" by the ruling.
Its chairman, Professor Jack Scarisbrick, said, "It is only a matter of time before children are created for other reasons—to "balance a family" or for a particular physical characteristic."(London Rebecca Coombes)
The move relaxes regulations laid down by the authority in 2001 to govern preimplantation genetic diagnosis—rules that were widely criticised as inconsistent.
Before last week抯 decision tissue typing could be carried out only in cells that had already been taken from embryos for the purpose of testing for inherited diseases. The process was considered too invasive to be used more widely.
But Suzi Leather, the authority抯 chairwoman, said the authority was now more convinced of the safety of embryo biopsy and that parents will now be able to apply for permission to test embryos for tissue type alone.
She said, "Our review of the evidence available does not indicate that the procedure disadvantages resulting babies compared to other IVF babies. It also shows that the risks associated with sibling to sibling stem cell donation are low and that this treatment can benefit the whole family."
Professor Soren Holm, professorial fellow in bioethics at Cardiff University and director of the Cardiff Centre for Ethics, Law and Society, welcomed the move, saying the previous ruling was "untenable." He predicted further relaxation of the rules in the future.
"Although the authority will look at each case individually, I think it will be very difficult to restrict," he said. "If there is someone抯 brother or sister needing this who would otherwise die, it will be immensely difficult to say no. And I抦 sure in some years to come it could be a first cousin who needs help. What if one of the parents needs a transplant?"
One of the first children to benefit is likely to be Joshua Fletcher, aged two, who has Diamond-Blackfan anaemia. Neither his parents, from County Down, Northern Ireland, nor his brother are of the appropriate tissue type to become a stem cell donor.
The BMA was pleased by the authority抯 decision, which had been a policy of the association since 2002. A spokeswoman acknowledged that allowing embryos to be tested to save a seriously ill brother or sister was a complex issue.
She said, "It raises a number of ethical and moral concerns. The obvious one is that all children should be valued for themselves and not just as potential life savers for a brother or sister.
"However, the BMA believes if technology to help a dying or seriously ill child exists, without involving major risk for others, then it can only be right that it is used for this purpose."
Life, the pro-life charity, was "disappointed but not surprised" by the ruling.
Its chairman, Professor Jack Scarisbrick, said, "It is only a matter of time before children are created for other reasons—to "balance a family" or for a particular physical characteristic."(London Rebecca Coombes)