Ethical Implications on Organoid

Abstract

Introduction: Over the last decade, the number and exposure of studies creating and implementing organoid technology have skyrocketed. Despite its potential in science, organoid technology poses complex ethical challenges that may hinder future translational benefits for patients. To encourage ethically acceptable innovation for the benefit of patients, the interdisciplinary conversation between diverse stakeholders in organoid research and its translational advantages is necessary. Organoid technology poses numerous major ethical concerns, including cell source, informed permission of cell donors, the legal status of organoids, human “chimaera,” gene editing, organoid transplantation, commercialisation, potential abuse, and long-term preservation in biobanking will be the central focus in this chapter. Methods: For the selection of literature, the MEDLINE/Pubmed database was used, particularly the MESH vocabulary. The keywords used in the MEDLINE research were: ethics in organoid; the ethical implication of organoid; ethics in biobanking; consent for organoid; gene editing in organoids; organoid transplant; legal status of the organoid. Results: Organoid technology has had a significant influence on biomedical research. The most significant impact comes from debates about ethical issues such as animal experimentation, the use of embryo cells, organoid transplantation, drug discovery, storage and biobanking, organoid accessibility, laws governing and curbing organoid misuse, and control over the genetic information of patients who donate cells for disease modelling purposes. However, organoid research poses additional ethical concerns that necessitate rethinking and maybe recalibrating ethical and legal laws. Conclusions: Progress in creating different organoids has revealed a slew of ethical concerns that necessitate moral and regulatory considerations. Moral arguments will revolve around the concerns of artificial life, animal humanisation, and the moral position of brain organoids and gastruloids. Regulatory issues highlight the need to agree on a set of rules governing clinical uses of organoids, biobanking, and consent.KeywordsOrganoidsEthical issuesBiobankingConsentPrecision medicine