Canada's Assisted Human Reproduction Act: Pragmatic Reforms in Support of Research

Frontiers in Medicine

article

Tania Bubela¹  Erika Kleiderman²  Zubin Master³  Ubaka Ogbogu⁵  Vardit Ravitsky⁶  Amy Zarzeczny⁷  Bartha Maria Knoppers² 

[1] Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University;Centre of Genomics and Policy, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University;Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine, United States;Biomedical Ethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, United States;Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta;Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Montreal;Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Regina

关键词: assisted reproductive technologies;    regulation;    criminal law;    constitutional law;    in vitro research;    mitochondrial replacement therapy;    germline gene editing;    Canada;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmed.2019.00157

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Canada's Assisted Human Reproduction Act is long overdue for Parliamentary review. We argue that the current regulation of research using human reproductive materials is not proportionate, not responsive to the uncertain threats posed to human and environmental health and safety, and is not considerate of diverse values in a democratic society. We propose tailored regulatory carve-outs for in vitro research for currently prohibited activities, such as gene editing, and for the exercise of Ministerial Discretion for access by Canadians to experimental in vivo interventions that are currently prohibited, such as mitochondrial replacement therapy. Our recommendations are bounded by constitutional constraints that recognize political and practical challenges in keeping oversight of this research under Federal jurisdiction, whether conducted in academic or private sectors. The proposed nuanced regulatory scheme should be overseen by a new national Agency, modeled on a blend of the Canadian Stem Cell Oversight Committee and Assisted Human Reproduction Canada.

【 授权许可】

CC BY