Research ethics in Canada: experience of a group operating a human embryo and fetal tissue bank.
A Canadian research group is establishing a human embryo and fetal tissue bank. Its purpose is to provide researchers with frozen or fixed tissue specimens for use in protein and gene expression studies. Several legal and ethical issues have arisen, including questions about consent, use of these rare tissues, cost recovery, and profit-making. These issues are discussed here in light of the present lack of legislation in Canada. We make recommendations in these areas, and suggest that the bank's operations could legally fall under the jurisdiction of the Human Tissue Gift Act.
Milos
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Department of Dentistry, Dentistry-Pharmacy Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2N8, Canada.
Bamforth
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Bagnall
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K
D037881:Aborted Fetus; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002170:Canada; D032982:Contracts; D033041:Embryo Research; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D033042:Fetal Research; D005333:Fetus; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D038622:Internationality; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D014021:Tissue Preservation
Alberta Human Tissue Gift Act; Biomedical and Behavioral Research; Genetics and Reproduction; Legal Approach