Stem Cell Research in Australia: Ethical and Legal Considerations

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of stem cell research in Australia, focusing on the significant ethical and legal challenges. It highlights the revolutionary potential of stem cell research in regenerative medicine, while also addressing the moral concerns related to the use of human embryos. The essay discusses the relevant legislation, including the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the Regulation of Human Embryo Research Amendment Act 2006, and the Research Involving Human Embryos Regulations 2017. It explores the conflict between the potential benefits of stem cell research in alleviating human suffering and the ethical implications of potentially ending human life. The paper examines the perspectives of various stakeholders, including government and non-government bodies, on whether the advancements in biomedical research can justify the moral dilemmas. References to key literature and legislative resources provide context and support the arguments presented.

Running head: STEM CELL RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA
Stem cell research in Australia
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
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STEM CELL RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA
Stem cell research has brought forth the onset of a revolutionary innovation in the health care
scenario and has helped to improve the health care industry remarkably. Stem cells or human
embryonic cells have a clinical superpower for regenerative tissue repair and are now being
concerned to be the future cure for a vast variety of different morbid diseases and disabilities.
However, there is a great controversy associated with the research involving stem cells due to
their origin being the human pre-implantation embryos1. This assignment will focus on the
primary ethico-legal issues of stem cell research, pertinent laws and the conflicting position of
the issue.
It has to be understood that for all of the stem cell lines, embryonic tissues used are generally
derived from the IVF by the means of therapeutic cloning, a process that involves autologous
transplantation of a somatic cell nucleus to an unfertilized egg. The key ethical issue with stem
cell research is the absolute disregard to the value of life itself; the moral violation is facilitated
by destruction of viable and potential human embryos which directly or indirectly is leading to
an unethical expiration of the beginning phase of a possible human life. Hence the key moral or
ethical issue is the violation of a key fundamental principle of humanity, respecting the value of
human life2.
There are various acts and legislations that relates to the use of stem cell research. Firstly, the
Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the Regulation of Human Embryo Research
Amendment Act 2006 and Research Involving Human Embryos Regulations 2017 are the most
pertinent legislative resource providing the most of the protocol restriction on all kinds of
biomedicine research involving stem cell research. Although the national stem cell centre is
1 Caulfield, Timothy, Christen Rachul, and Amy Zarzeczny. "The evolution of policy issues in stem cell
research: an international survey." Stem Cell Reviews and Reports 8, no. 4 (2012): 1037-1042
2 Li, Matthew D., Harold Atkins, and Tania Bubela. "The global landscape of stem cell clinical trials."
Regenerative medicine 9, no. 1 (2014): 27-39

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STEM CELL RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA
concerned with the existent stem cell research in Australia, however the compliance to the
commonwealth and state territory laws of the research activity it overlooked by the NHMRC
licensing committee3.
It has to be mentioned that the stem cell research h has been nothing short of a major
breakthrough in the field if regenerative biomedicine, although this research gives rise to a
ethico-legal conflict than none other. The stem cell research attempts to improve the life of
existing human lives at the seeming expense of ending that of the possible human lives. On one
hand, one fundamental moral principle of preventing and alleviating the suffering of people is
being exceptionally addressed by the stem cell. While on the other hand, another most
fundamental moral principle of valuing human life above everything else is being violated
heavily4.
Hence the conflict on morality and the humanitarian consequence of ending numerous viable
human lives is a great obstacle in the path of progressive biomedical research. The debate is
consistent among various government and non-government stakeholders on whether the
betterment of human lives by progressive research can justify the moral conflict of exploiting
human embryos.
3 Commonwealth And State Legislation | National Health And Medical Research Council. 2018.
Nhmrc.Gov.Au. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/research/embryo-research-licensing/commonwealth-and-state-
legislation.
4 Munsie, M., & Hyun, I. (2014). A question of ethics: selling autologous stem cell therapies flaunts
professional standards. Stem cell research, 13(3), 647-653.

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STEM CELL RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA
References:
Caulfield, Timothy, Christen Rachul, and Amy Zarzeczny. "The evolution of policy issues in
stem cell research: an international survey." Stem Cell Reviews and Reports 8, no. 4 (2012):
1037-1042.
Commonwealth And State Legislation | National Health And Medical Research Council. 2018.
Nhmrc.Gov.Au. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/research/embryo-research-licensing/commonwealth-
and-state- legislation.
Li, Matthew D., Harold Atkins, and Tania Bubela. "The global landscape of stem cell clinical
trials." Regenerative medicine 9, no. 1 (2014): 27-39.
Munsie, M., & Hyun, I. (2014). A question of ethics: selling autologous stem cell therapies
flaunts professional standards. Stem cell research, 13(3), 647-653.