Institute for History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Medical Center, Am Pulverturm 13, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2010 Jun;6(2):151-61. doi: 10.1007/s12015-010-9117-6.
Rapid technological developments in human embryonic stem cell research are holding promises of future new medical treatment for a range of currently incurable chronic diseases. At the same time, stem cell research using human embryos raises radically new, previously unimaginable ethical issues posing a dramatic challenge to humankind. By analysing the discourses on these ethical issues we can show that the cultural values and religious convictions of all stakeholders involved play a decisive role in formulating ethical positions. In the Islamic world, too, stem cell research using human embryos provokes new discussions about the moral status of the embryo according to Islamic ethical norms. In our paper we describe the theological and philosophical criteria used in this debate and discuss some ethical positions vis-à-vis embryonic stem cell research formulated in the Islamic world, including official regulations existing in some Muslim countries. While most of the existing literature in this field is primarily descriptive, the present paper endeavours to examine not only the arguments and their historical conditions as such; in addition, we will for the first time provide a critical reflection on the methodology underlying commonly held positions. In our view, this reflection is of paramount importance in establishing a straightforward constructive dialogue between different cultures and academic disciplines.
人类胚胎干细胞研究的快速技术发展有望为一系列目前无法治愈的慢性疾病提供未来的新治疗方法。与此同时，使用人类胚胎进行干细胞研究引发了全新的、以前难以想象的伦理问题，对人类构成了巨大挑战。通过分析这些伦理问题的论述，我们可以表明，所有利益相关者的文化价值观和宗教信仰在制定伦理立场方面起着决定性的作用。在伊斯兰世界，使用人类胚胎进行干细胞研究也根据伊斯兰伦理规范引发了关于胚胎道德地位的新讨论。在我们的论文中，我们描述了在这场辩论中使用的神学和哲学标准，并讨论了一些在伊斯兰世界制定的胚胎干细胞研究的伦理立场，包括一些穆斯林国家现有的官方规定。虽然该领域的大部分现有文献主要是描述性的，但本文不仅试图研究这些论点及其历史条件本身；此外，我们还将首次对普遍持有的立场所依据的方法论进行批判性反思。我们认为，这种反思对于在不同文化和学科之间建立直接的建设性对话至关重要。
