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The gap between law and ethics in human embryonic stem cell research: Overcoming the effect of U.S. Federal policy on research advances and public benefit

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Abstract

Key ethical issues arise in association with the conduct of stem cell research by research institutions in the United States. These ethical issues, summarized in detail, receive no adequate translation into federal laws or regulations, also described in this article. U.S. Federal policy takes a passive approach to these ethical issues, translating them simply into limitations on taxpayer funding, and foregoes scientific and ethical leadership while protecting intellectual property interests through a laissez faire approach to stem cell patents and licenses. Those patents and licenses, far from being scientifically and ethically neutral in effect, virtually prohibit commercially sponsored research that could otherwise be a realistic alternative to the federal funding gap. The lack of federal funding and related data-sharing principles, combined with the effect of U.S. patent policy, the lack of key agency guidance, and the proliferation of divergent state laws arising from the lack of Federal leadership, significantly impede ethical stem cell research in the United States, without coherently supporting any consensus ethical vision. Research institutions must themselves implement steps, described in the article, to integrate addressing ethical review with the many legal compliance issues U.S. federal and state laws create.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Counsel, Research Affairs, Children’s Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, 02115, Boston, MA, USA

    Patrick L. Taylor J.D. (Lecturer)

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  1. Patrick L. Taylor J.D.
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Correspondence to Patrick L. Taylor J.D..

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The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and are not necessarily the opinions of others, including Children’s Hospital Boston. Portions of earlier versions of this article were previously published by the American Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association.

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Taylor, P.L. The gap between law and ethics in human embryonic stem cell research: Overcoming the effect of U.S. Federal policy on research advances and public benefit. SCI ENG ETHICS 11, 589–616 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-005-0028-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-005-0028-x

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