Transplantation of electively aborted human fetal tissue: physicians' attitudes.
OBJECTIVE
To provide empirical data on the attitudes of Ontario family physicians and gynecologists toward the use of electively aborted fetal tissue for transplantation (FTT).


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Ontario.


METHODS
Random samples of 300 physicians from the membership list of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and 300 from the membership list of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada; 248 family physicians and 186 gynecologists responded, for an overall response rate of 72%.


METHODS
Physicians' attitudes toward incentives to collect fetal tissue at abortion, patient-management issues, consent issues and potential conflicts in the supply and demand of fetal tissue.


RESULTS
Of those surveyed 75% agreed that there should be no incentives to collect fetal tissue at abortion, 90% believed that decisions to abort must be separate from decisions to donate fetal tissue, 94% agreed that an option to donate fetal tissue should be discussed only after a firm decision to abort has been made, and 88% stated that the demand for fetal tissue should not hinder the availability of new abortion technology such as the abortifacient pill (RU 486).


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that there is general approval for FTT. Apparent variations between responses to global statements and to practice-oriented statements suggest strategies for effective Canadian public policy regarding FTT.
Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Ont.
M A
MA
Mullen
J I
JI
Williams
F H
FH
Lowy
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires