Ethical issues in neurografting of human embryonic cells

During the last decade neurotransplantation has developed into a technique with the possible potential to repair damaged or degenerating human brain. Effective neurotransplantation has so far been based on the use of fetal br ain tissue derived from aborted embryos or fetuses. The ethical issues rela ted to this new therapeutic approach therefore not only concern the possibl e adverse side effects for a neural graft-receiving patient, but also the r elationship between the requirements for fetal tissue and the decision-maki ng process for induced abortion. Although for decades human embryos and fet uses have been the subject of biomedical studies, and, in principle, their use has therefore not been seen as ethically objectionable, the above point s made it necessary to reconsider the moral issues. The present paper point s out several of these issues, both from the donor and acceptor (patient) p oint of view. The conclusion is that under a series of restrictions intende d to prevent the use of grafts from encouraging induced abortions and to ma intain high standards of respect for life and human dignity, neurotransplan tation using embryonic or fetal brain tissue parts cannot be rejected on mo ral grounds.