![]() ![]() The Research Ethics Law promulgated in 2010 and its implementing regulation in 2012 includes all ethical guidelines to control stem cell research. įrom an ethical perspective, Saudi Arabia was the first country in the region to have ethical regulations related to the use of and research with stem cells. In addition, many other research institutions, established later, play a leading role in this field such as King Abdullah International Medical Research Center with a specialized stem cell research department, including a stem cell registry containing more than 10,000 donors and the Cord Blood Bank. Saudi Arabia is ahead in stem cell research as many universities, such as King Saud University and King Faisal Specialized Hospital and Research Center, started stem cell research more than 20 years ago. Many Arabic countries conduct research with stem cells, as evidenced by the hundreds of scientific papers published in this field. 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. The third phase of the research is using stem cell lines obtained from other institutions leading to the issue of adverse legal and ethical principles. 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. The second phase, research with human embryonic stem cells, creates several ethical issues. The first phase is the “donation of biological material,” highlighting the problem of “informed and voluntary consent”. Lo and Parham provided a classification of the different ethical issues based on the four phases of stem cell research. More recently, emerging countries also incorporated stem cell therapies in their practices. Bharadwaj mentioned the increasing movements of social and government concerns regarding stem cell research and clinical medication in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan. However, as indicated by several authors, the use of stem cells, present many ethical, political, and even religious challenges, either related to resources, use, or rights of donors. In this context, medical practitioners consider stem cells as the hope and light for many patients who are suffering and in dire need of a cure. Similarly, Lovell-Badge discussed the fact that stem cells offer great hope for patients with enervating illnesses such as “diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases”. McLaren reported that there are millions of individuals suffering from and succumbing to “incurable degenerative diseases of the nervous system, heart, liver, pancreas, and other organs” annually. Literature highlights the significance of understanding stem cell therapy and research to support the development of regenerative medicine. The 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. 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. A thematic analysis was performed to search for and identify the most significant perceptions shared by the participants. ResultsĪ 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. 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. In Saudi Arabia, key stakeholders play an active role in discussing the ethics of 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. 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. 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. ![]()
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