ETHICS OF FETAL TISSUE-TRANSPLANTATION

Now that the Clinton Administration has overturned the ban on federal funding for fetal tissue transplantation, old ethical issues renew the ir relevance and new ethical issues arise. Is fetal tissue transplanta tion necessary and beneficial? Are fetal rights violated by the use of fetal tissue in research? Is there a moral danger that the potential of fetal tissue donation will encourage elective abortions? Should pre gnant women be allowed to designate specific fetal transplant recipien ts? What criteria should be used to select fetal tissue transplants? W hose consent should be required for the use of fetal tissue for transp lantation? We review the current state of clinical research with fetal tissue transplantation, the legal history of fetal tissue research, t he major arguments against the use of fetal tissue for transplantation , and the new post-moratorium ethical dilemmas. We include recommendat ions for guidelines to govern the medical treatment of fetal tissue in transplantation.