Stem Cell Therapy: Ethical Issues
Introduction
A Round Table meeting was held on 29 September 1999 to discuss the key ethical issues raised by stem cell therapy.
The potential for human stem cells to specialise and form different types of tissue raises the possibility of major advances in healthcare. Potential applications include transplant therapies for treating many diseases and conditions, changes in methods of drug testing and improved understanding of normal human development. Much current research is controversial because it involves deriving stem cells from human embryos.
A discussion paper, based on the discussions at the roundtable meeting, was published in April 2000.
Last Updated Wed, 7 July 2004
