title: [The criteria of high priority, adequacy of research in the animal and adult human models, and the absence of an alternative according to section 5 of the German Stem Cell Act: the ethical perspective].
abstract: The German Stem Cell Act forbids, in principle, the importation und use of human embryonic stem cells, but provides for exceptions under specific conditions. It is the first Federal German law that grants an ethical review authority over the approval process. The legislature has indeed established the criteria for the work of the members of the "Central Ethics Commission for Stem Cell Research" appointed by the Federal Government. The three criteria include the following: 'high priority of the research goals', sufficiencyy of research in the animal and adult human models' and 'the absence of an alternative'. Together they legitimate the importation and use of human embryonic stem cells. This paper seeks to elucidate these three criteria, to analyze their dual function as ethical and as scientific concepts, and to illustrate the ways in which they are being used.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Philosophie Fernuniversität Hagen, Hagen, BRD. jan.beckmann@fernuni-hagen.de
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Beckmann
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000818:Animals; D033041:Embryo Research / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells; D017041:Ethics Committees / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D012106:Research / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*