2. 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
3. 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)
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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 IVF
and donated by the parents with assurance that they are
not to be used to produce an illegal pregnancy
7. 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)
8. 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
9. Any other alternative??
Induced-pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)
Definition:
Adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to
an embryonic state
10. 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
11. 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
