A comparative review of legal and ethical issues arising from stem cell therapy and therapeutic cloning

Abstract

In 1998, the isolation and culture of stem cells by two teams of American scientists working independently, marked a breakthrough in biological research. It enabled scientists to understand how these non specialized cells transform themselves into the variety of specialized cells that make us who we are. Since some of the most serious medical conditions are due to problems that occur at some point in this process of transformation, the application of the results of stem cell research to medical practice could lead to the successful treatment of what, until recently, used to be considered incurable diseases. Though nobody can cast doubt on the need to find new ways for dealing with devastating illnesses that continue to wreak havoc on the lives of those afflicted by them, stem cell research has given rise to a number of ethical and legal problems. After describing the scientific facts related to this relatively new area of research, this thesis examines the ethical debate surrounding stem cell research and therapeutic cloning. It then goes to deal with current legislation regarding this issue as it stands in the EU Member States. The last two chapters deal specifically with the Maltese scenario, tracing the main lines of the ongoing ethical debate and focusing on the kind of legislation -if any- that may be required.