title: Retroactive ethics in rapidly developing scientific fields.
abstract: Science often progresses faster than regulation, and retroactive ethically linked rules have been a persistent issue in stem cell research. Proposed NIH funding rules are retroactive. Legal history and ethical analysis show why there should be a strong presumption that such new rules should be only prospective, in any area of scientific research.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital Boston, Office of General Counsel, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. patrick.taylor@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Patrick L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D033041:Embryo Research / Q000941:ethics*; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D014481:United States