Stem Cell Research Ethics: Consensus Statement on Emerging Issues

Abstract This article is a consensus statement by an international interdisciplinary group of academic experts and Canadian policy-makers on emerging ethical, legal, and social issues in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research in Canada. The process of reaching consensus included consultations with key stakeholders in hESC research (regulators, stem cell researchers, and research ethics experts), preparation and distribution of background papers, and an international workshop held in Montreal in February 2007 to discuss the papers and debate recommendations. The recommendations provided in the consensus statement focus on issues of immediate relevance to Canadian policy-makers, including informed consent to hESC research, the use of fresh embryos in research, management of conflicts of interest, and the relevance of public opinion research to policy-making.