Jewish law and stem cell research

The recent issue of Yale Medicine [Spring 2016] devoted to stem cell research highlighted the decade-long debates as to the ethical implications. Of interest was the presentation of the religious view, primarily from the traditional Catholic perspective. Conspicuously absent was the Jewish point of view, which I recently summarized in an article published in Nature Medicine in 2009, “The preimplantation embryo and Jewish law.” I am attaching excerpts from this summary, which details the basis for the Jewish Halacha (religious law) that licenses the use of preimplantation tissue for research and permits the creation of embryos explicitly for research with no concern of violating the dignity of life.

“It is clear that the preimplantation embryo itself does not have the capacity to develop into a human being. If it is intended to be implanted, and if it is successfully done, only then does it acquire the full potential to become a human being. Thus, it is universally agreed by all Jewish law authorities that the preimplantation embryo does not have the same sacred title to life as the implanted embryo. Therefore, preimplanted embryos that are not designated for implantation, including their stem cell lines, can be used for potentially lifesaving and disease-curing purposes. In addition, the creation of in vitro preimplantation embryos for research is allowed, if it is probable that the research will ultimately help in saving human life.”

My hope is that in the future, this perspective will be included in the deliberations of the committee devoted to discussions of the ethics of the use of stem cells in medical care and research.

Arthur I. Eidelman, M.D., HS ’67
Jerusalem, Israel