Question One: Fetal tissue and stem cell research has been conducted since at least the early 1990’s. Traditionally fetal tissue research has been generally limited to taking living cells from an aborted fetus and transplanting them into people who have chronic or severe disease. The procedure has been found to be helpful to a limited extent in certain treatments such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Stem cell research is a closely related issue. Stem cells are the very early cells present in the developing fetus that have not yet begun to differentiate. Stem cells can be separated and then placed in an environment where they will form more stem cells; or the genetic material needed to reproduce an identical individual. Yet even a superficial consideration of these procedures raises many important ethical issues. Basic to the ethics of this type of research is the source of the research material. In the past, most of the material came from elective abortions. Because of the immaturity and lack of differentiation of cells during the first trimester of pregnancy, however, the best fetal tissue comes from fetuses aborted during the second trimester.
The question of right to life vs. quality of life will be a heated debate for some time. As a nurse we have an important role to play in these issues. Although they will not likely be involved directly in research itself, nurses are often employed in facilities where elective abortions are performed. Nurses employed in such places must become aware of the issues involved in abortion. They should also know where the aborted fetuses are taken and how they are disposed of. But as to the question of whether we should or should not depends upon each individual person and their decisions on where they want to work. Nurses should be informed about developing procedures and techniques regarding the research and nurses should support legal and ethical efforts to control its abuses as well as individual choice.
Question Two: In this ethical dilemma nurses should use or apply ethical theories to understand what to do in this situation. Theories provide a framework for decision making that the nurse can apply to a particular ethical situation. Sometimes these ethical theories may seem too abstract or general, but without them ethical decisions may often be made without reasoning or forethought and may be based on personal emotions. Using the nursing code of ethics will define the ethical principles that govern a particular profession. Codes of ethics are presented as a general statement and do not give specific answers to every possible ethical dilemma, but the codes do offer guidance to the individual practitioner in making decisions. The revised Code of Ethics reinforces the basic values and commitments that have been and remain essential to the profession of nursing. The revised codes reflect the issues that are current to health-care practices and define new boundaries of duty and loyalty. The revised code supports nurses in their attempt to upgrade their employment conditions and environment, as well as addresses and supports nurses who are involved with whistle-blowing when dealing with health-care team members that are, in their eyes, breaking the law. It also supports nurses in their right to refuse to practice treatments that violates the nurse’s beliefs such as with stem cell research and how it relates to abortion and right to life.
References:
Cherry, B. & Jacob, S. R. (1999). Contemporary Nursing: Issues, Trends & Management. Philadelphia: Mosby.
Maville, J. A. & Huerta, C. G. (2002). Health Promotion in Nursing. New York: Delmar.