Criteria for pre-embryo research in South Africa: an analysis within the paradigm of respect for the pre-embryo.
The traditional focus ofpre-embryo research on reproductive problems has since radically expanded due to the advent of embryonic stem cell research. Similar to other countries, pre-embryo research in South Africa is also subject to a legal-ethical regime that strictly regulates pre-embryo research. This paradigm is based on the value 'respect for the pre-embryo'. This value is used as the point of departure of this article. The South African National Health Act and draft regulations in terms of this Act are silent on the key issue of substantive criteria for the permissibility of pre-embryo research. It is of cardinal importance that this lacuna be filled by the regulations that are currently in the making. The purpose of this article is to address this problem by developing a comprehensive set of substantive criteria that can be incorporated in the regulations. This is firstly done through an analysis of the value 'respect for the pre-embryo' and secondly through a comparative analysis of the legal positions in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium. Based on these analyses, the following criteria for pre-embryo research in South Africa are suggested: a medical scientific purpose; no equally effective alternative; good scientific practice, which includes a sound methodology and sufficient experience of the researchers.
Jordaan
Donrich W
DW
Unit for Policy Studies, Centre for International Political Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
D033041:Embryo Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D013019:South Africa