To
the members of the Union of Catholic Physicians in the Archdiocese of Lingayen
Dagupan:
I
am pleased to respond to your request for moral guidance regarding the medical
issue of stem cell therapy. I especially commend you for seeking to learn more
about the ethical dimensions in the practice of your profession. Please be
assured of the Church’s guidance as teacher and mother in morality and faith.
The
Catholic Church has always supported research for the cure of diseases
throughout history. Pope Benedict XVI had said, “When science is applied to the alleviation of suffering
and when it discovers on its way new resources, it shows two faces rich in
humanity: through the sustained ingenuity invested in research, and through the
benefit announced to all who are afflicted by sickness.”
In
the case of stem cell research the Church recognizes its potential to
contribute to human flourishing through the development of treatments for
debilitating and fatal diseases. As in all applications of science, the Church
believes that stem research and the therapies that result from them should be
guided by ethical norms to ensure that harm to human beings be avoided at every
stage of life and that the formation of a just and compassionate society for
all be fostered.
Generally,
there is nothing that is morally objectionable with cell therapy. As a matter
of fact, any natural healing is a kind of stem cell therapy, as when a torn
skin or muscles heals with the help of some other medical or surgical
procedure.
There
is nothing that is morally objectionable with stem cell therapy when somatic
stem cells are used as sources or raw materials to help the diseased organ heal
or replenish its lost component. Example of this therapy is bone morrow
transplant, cornea transplant, use of umbilical cord to develop cell lines,
skin blood, fat and many others.
While
the development of effective stem cell therapies is still an on-going process,
the urgent desire of many persons to undergo such therapies for serious medical
conditions has led to situations where selfish and misguided interests have
exposed vulnerable persons to exploitation and potential health hazards.
The
dangers and potentials of stem cell therapies available in the Philippines have
prompted the Church to provide pastoral guidelines for those procuring,
providing, or regulating such therapies:
Stem
cell research and therapies that use stem cells derived from human embryos or
aborted fetuses should be rejected and prohibited. Such therapies abet directly
or indirectly the practice of abortion. It is not only morally objectionable,
it is morally repugnant as the use of human embryo means killing a human being
in order to save another human being. We have always believed that a human
embryo or fertilized ovum is a (complete) human being although in its primitive
form. Such human being or entity is irreplaceable and is always an end in
himself. Killing an embryo in any of its stage of development is killing a
human being. This makes it morally repugnant.
Caution
is to be exercised with regard to stem cell research and therapies that use
plant cells, animal cells, and genetically modified human stem cells. Rigorous
scientific verification must be made to ensure that such therapies will not
lead to harmful effects. Authorization must be obtained from proper authorities
before such therapies are made available.
Stem
cell research and therapies that use adult human stem cells and stem cells from
umbilical cord blood are acceptable as long as they are proven safe and are
approved by regulating bodies.
Clinical
research trials should not be misrepresented as therapeutic stem cell
treatments. Clinical research trials are intended to gather scientific data for
developing future stem cell therapies. These trials do not guarantee cures and
carry greater risks to participants than approved therapeutic treatments.
Participation in these trials is voluntary and must not require payment. To
charge payment is a violation of research ethics and an exploitation of
research subjects. The protection of persons from harm and exploitation must
prevail over the advancement of scientific research.
1) Persons willing to undergo clinical
trials or stem cell therapies must be given adequate and accurate information
in order that they can make informed decisions about their participation or
treatment. Information should include costs, risks, expected benefits,
side-effects, duration, use of placebos, and probability of success/failure.
2) Exaggerated or unproven claims of
cures from stem cell therapies must be avoided to prevent raising false hopes
among the desperately ill.
3) Medical and government authorities
must be vigilant against misrepresented, unapproved, and unregulated stem cell
research and therapies.
The
high cost of stem cell therapies should also give us cause to reflect about
issues of solidarity and justice. While the restoration of health, alleviation
of suffering, and prolongation of life are legitimate human pursuits, the
fostering of an individualistic and market-driven system of health care hinders
the formation of a society based on compassion and mutual care. Those who provide
or procure expensive stem cell therapies cannot remain indifferent to the lack
of basic health care among the poor. We deplore the lack of basic health
services for the poor in government institutions. Vaccinations and basic health
care facilities are hardly accorded to almost eight million Filipinos. We
cannot allow the high cost of stem cell therapies to blind us to the cry of the
sick and the poor.
In the spirit of solidarity and justice, those who benefit from stem cell therapies whether as medical practitioners or clients should also actively and concretely contribute to improving the health care of persons who are least in society.
From
the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Dagupan City, October 18, 2013,
Feast of Saint Luke, Physician
+SOCRATES
B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan
Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan
_________________________
1 Benedict XVI,
“Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Participants in the Symposium on
the Theme: ‘Stem Cells: What Future Therapy?’, September 16, 2006, accessed
September 25, 2013,
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060916_pav_en.html
2 Pope John Paul II, The Gospel of Life [Evangelium Vitae], no. 63.
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