Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia

Ghiath Alahmad,Muath Fahmi Najjar,Sarah Aljohani

doi:10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6

Abstract

BackgroundWith the huge number of patients who suffer from chronic and incurable diseases, medical scientists continue to search for new curative methods for patients in dire need of treatment. Interest in stem cells is growing, generating high expectations in terms of the possible benefits that could be derived from stem cell research and therapy. However, regardless of the hope of stem cells changing and improving lives, there are many ethical, religious, and political challenges and controversies that affect the research, and mandated to establish ethical guidelines and regulations. In Saudi Arabia, key stakeholders play an active role in discussing the ethics of stem cell research and therapy. The focus of the study was to explore professionals’ perceptions related to the ethical challenges of using stem cells in research and treatment in Saudi Arabia.ResultsA qualitative research study was conducted to explore and describe the perceptions of 25 professionals employed at different tertiary hospitals in the various regions of Saudi. A thematic analysis was performed to search for and identify the most significant perceptions shared by the participants. Four themes were generated based on the ethical challenges of four areas related to stem cell use, including (1) forbidden and permitted sources of stem cells, (2) informed consent, (3) beneficence, and (4) ethical regulations and guidelines.ConclusionThe study identified that there is a growing need to advance the knowledge, education, and awareness related to stem cell research and treatment in Saudi Arabia.

Highlights

With the huge number of patients who suffer from chronic and incurable diseases, medical scientists continue to search for new curative methods for patients in dire need of treatment
Researchers and professionals must obtain an informed consent at all times and follow the international regulations regarding stem cell research
Having spent a significant part of their scientific life in Western countries, they are aware of ethical issues; at the same time, their cultural and religious background plays a role in their perceptions regarding the ethical challenges and how to deal with them

Summary

Introduction

With the huge number of patients who suffer from chronic and incurable diseases, medical scientists continue to search for new curative methods for patients in dire need of treatment. In Saudi Arabia, key stakeholders play an active role in discussing the ethics of stem cell research and therapy. The focus of the study was to explore professionals’ perceptions related to the ethical challenges of using stem cells in research and treatment in Saudi Arabia. Lo and Parham provided a classification of the different ethical issues based on the four phases of stem cell research. The second phase, research with human embryonic stem cells, creates several ethical issues. These issues include the “destruction of embryos and the creation of embryos for research purposes” as well as financial compensation to oocyte donors, medical hazards related to the retrieval of the oocyte, and the need to protect the reproductive interests of women undergoing infertility treatment [2]. The fourth and last step is the use of stem cells in clinical trials, encompassing both the advantages and disadvantages of the trial and informed consent [2]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion