PubMed · 8035861
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
1994-07-28. Regulating embryology.. https://doi.org/10.1038/370236a0
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
The perinatal necropsy is an important investigation following fetal or neonatal loss. Legal requirements on registration decree that consent is needed before necropsy can proceed in some of these babies. However, there are ill-defined grey areas which are open to legal and ethical difficulties. This paper discusses the problems that can arise with consent for a necropsy in the perinatal period. Some of these problems are clearly legal or ethical but all can cause distress to parents at a time of grief and bereavement. The issues may not be readily resolved but public debate and ad hominem decisions on each perinatal loss may help to alleviate the problems.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential availability and utility of fetal tissues obtained from spontaneous abortions and from ectopic pregnancies for human transplantation therapy. DESIGN: Tissue collection and analysis by personnel skilled in tissue banking. SETTING: Procurement programs in five tissue banks located in diverse geographical areas that are funded by the National Institutes of Health. PATIENTS: All women entering obstetric clinics during 1993 who consented to participate in the study. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evaluation of the products of conception by standard developmental, histological, microbiological, and cytogenetic criteria. RESULTS: From 22,235 obstetric admissions, 1250 spontaneously aborted embryos and 247 products of ectopic pregnancies were obtained. Of these, seven embryos (0.5%) were potentially useful for human transplantation therapy. CONCLUSION: Fetal tissues from spontaneous abortions and from ectopic pregnancies are quite limited as feasible sources for human transplantation therapy.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.