ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVESStem cell research & transplantation

Argument against

Embryo as source of embryonic stem cell

- it is a human and it is wrong to harm a human

destroy a potential for life, the embryo, to save the life of

someone else

not produced any cures for disease yet

tendency for stem cells to develop tumors

reject the implanted cells as foreign objects

Maqasid al shari’at

(Purposes of the Law)

Ethical procedures conform to and do not violate the FIVE maqasid

al shari’at

preservation of religion (hifdh al ddiin)

preservation of life (hifdh an nafs)

preservation of progeny (hifdh al nasl)

preservation of the intellect (hifdh al ‘aql)

preservation of resources (hifdh al maal)

Ethical controversy about embryonic stem cells:

The use of adult stem cells or cells from the umbilical cord

raises few ethical controversies.

Embryonic stem cells, unlike adult stem cells, are a

source of ethical controversy because they are obtained

from embryonic tissue, either pre-implantation or post-

implantation. Use of such tissue involves violation of the

purpose of preserving life, hifdh an nafs. Since the cell

is a potential human life its use in research or

transplantation involves denial of that life.

Prof. Omar Hasan Kasule

Pioneer in integrating Islamic medicine into

medical practice and teaching

Muzakarah Fatwa Committee of the National Council for

Islamic Affairs Malaysia

Therapeutic cloning for medical purposes such as creating

specific cells or replaced damaged organs with regard to

border measures permitted by Islamic law is required.

Research on embryo should be done before the ‘alaqah

(blastocyst) stage

Acc. to fatwa:

It is permissible to acquire, grow and use stem cells for therapy or scientific research as long as the cells’ sources are permissible. Examples of permissible sources are:

Adults who consent as long as it does not inflict harm on them

Children whose guardians consent for a legal benefit without inflicting harm on the children

Placenta or umbilical cord blood with the permission of the parents

Spontaneously aborted embryos or those aborted for a legally acceptable cause and with the permission of the parents

Excess fertilized eggs produced during the course of IVFand donated by the parents with assurance that they are not to be used to produce an illegal pregnancy

It is forbidden to obtain or use stem cells if its source is

forbidden.

Fetuses intentionally aborted without a legal medical

reason

Intentional fertilization between a donated ovum and

sperm (created embryo)

therapeutic cloning (if it is just used to create an embryo to

be a stem cell donor or in the context of “reproductive”

cloning)

Fatwa from:

Muslim Word League. Islamic Jurisprudence Council

Conference, Dec 13-17, 2003, Makka, Saudi Arabia. Fatwa

number 3. Regarding stem cells.

Muzakarah Fatwa Committee of the National Council for Islamic

Affairs Malaysia, February 22, 2005

Any other alternative??

Induced-pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)

Definition:

Adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to

an embryonic state

1.Deactivated viruses introduce

regulator genes into adult skin cell

2.Regulator genes land randomly on

chromosome

3.The genes integrate into the skin

cell’s DNA

4.The new gene start regulating the other genes of the

skin cell

5.Reverse into embryonic state

References

1. JIMA: Volume 39, 2007Prospects and Ethics of Stem Cell Research:

An Islamic Perspective (Hossam E. Fadel, MD, PhD, FACOG

Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University Hospital

Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of

Georgia Augusta, Georgia)

2. Prof Omar Hasan Kasule Tripod

3. Himpunan Keputusan Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsaan

Bagi Hal Ehwal Ugama Islam Malaysia Mengenai Isu-isu Sains dan Perubatan