Fetal Tissue Research
Laws Governing the Use of Fetal Tissue in Medicine
Research involving human fetal tissue has provided significant medical developments. Fetal tissue research assisted with the creation of vaccines for polio and rubella. Transplantation studies with human fetal tissue have shown promise in treating juvenile diabetes and other ailments. However, despite these accomplishments, research involving human fetal tissue remains controversial. Because human fetal tissue is derived from aborted fetuses, such research is often entangled with the politics of abortion. Those who believe that a fetus is a human being consider research involving human fetal tissue to be unethical. Opposition to fetal tissue research and transplantation led to a moratorium on…
