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Stem Cell Research Guidelines

2001:01EM STEM CELL RESEARCH GUIDELINES

Whereas: research has shown that stem cells have a unique capacity to reproduce themselves or to differentiate into a variety of more specialized cells; and

Whereas: research using stem cells holds a great deal of promise for future treatment of a wide range of injuries and degenerative diseases; and

Whereas: research shows that stem cells can be produced from a variety of sources, but to date stem cells from early human embryos or fetal tissue hold the greatest promise because of their versatility and ability to divide; and

Whereas: it will be important to have informed consent from donors for the use in research of early human embryos and fetal tissue; and

Whereas: at present Canada does not have regulations or guidelines for researchers or for research funding in this area; therefore be it

RESOLVED: that the National Council of Women of Canada establish as its policy the need for established guidelines to cover stem cell research, funding for that research, and donor consent; and be it further

RESOLVED: that National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to establish guidelines based on the following principles:

a. approval under strict guidelines of stem cell research and funding, when the source of the stem cells is human fetal tissue or existing human embryos left over from the process of in vitro fertilization; and

b. review of the use of this material by local Research Ethics Boards (REBs) and by a national ethics review agency; and

  1. a requirement for informed consent for the donation of fetal tissue or in vitro embryos, the consent to be obtained under conditions where no pressure is involved; and
  2. no commercialization of the process whereby fetal tissue or human embryos are obtained; and
  3. a prohibition of stem cell research which involves the use of stem cells to create human embryos for the purpose of research or combining human stem cells with an animal or any other non-human embryo or animal or any other nonhuman stem cells with a human embryo.