Although recent allegations have dominated the media lately that Planned Parenthood clinics sold aborted baby parts to scientific researchers, the U.S. government does have a series of rules that monitor the use of fetal tissue in scientific research.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, the research and use of human embryos and fetuses are strictly for the development of vaccines in addition to studying the genetics of cell physiology and the development of humans.
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The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' National Institutes of Health forbids direct funds for the following uses:
- the creation of a human embryo or embryos for research purposes; or
- research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death
Following the intent of securing stem cells, the NIH further says, that "funds may be used only if the cells were derived from frozen embryos that were created for the purposes of fertility treatment, were in excess of clinical need, and were obtained after the consent of the donating couple.”
Along with various rules and guidelines, NIH funding for using human pluripotent stem cells from fetal tissue also requires an official review and approval by an Institutional Review Board.
Along with these guidelines, there are also many rules surrounding the moral intent of the donor. Other than the general cost for processing, maintaining, and exchanging, the status of stem cells should not be used for individual profit, or market revenue.
“The informed consent must also state the possibility that the results of the research may have commercial potential, and that the donor will not receive any benefits from any such future commercial development,” reports the NIH.
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