Matin Research Journal

Matin Research Journal

Justifiability of Putting an End to Life of In Vitro Embryo in Light of Contradiction with an Analysis of Imam Khomeini’s Views

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
hasan eskandarian 1
Majid Sarbazian 2
1 Lecturer, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding author)
2 Associate Professor, Department of Law, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran.
10.22034/matin.2022.350446.2075
Abstract
Identifying and diffusion of a new type of cells known as stem cells is among new findings in medical science. Stem cells are capable of regulating human body’s safety system, reproduction, regeneration, transformation into specialized cells (differentiation) with a more specific function and tissue repair, for which they have drawn attention of scientists during the recent years.
In vitro embryo is one major source of stem cell that practically puts an end to the life of embryo. Now questions arise vis-à-vis such practice: Is putting an end to embryo life for stem cell extraction and medical treatment religiously permissible or justifiable? Are we allowed to generate embryo for stem cell extraction? This study, developed through a descriptive-analytical methodology and a review of diversified fundamentals of embryo, jurisprudential sources in particular, intends to present a new criterion for embryo life and to prove worthiness and full human life status for in vitro embryo from the moment of gamete maturation. Apparently, proving human worthiness and dignity at the stage of gamete maturation with the criterion of embryo purposefulness and resorting to the principle of contradiction and rejection of distress and constriction, the practice of putting an end to the life of in vitro embryo becomes justifiable. However, this reasoning falls short of justifying embryo regeneration for destruction. By virtue of a legal ruling by Imam Khomeini, we have tried to infer permissibility of taking the life of in vitro embryo by analogical reasoning on priority of rulings.
Keywords
Imam Khomeini
contradiction
embryo life
abortion
stem cells

Subjects

- Afshar, L. & et al. (2020). Ethics of research on stem cells and regenerative medicine: Ethical guidelines in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 11(1), 396. doi: 10.1186/s13287-020-01916-z
- Alhomaidan, H. M. & Alhomaidan, A. M. (2018). The impact of religion on human embryonic stem cell regulations: Comparison between the UK, Germany and the US. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal, 7(1), 22–26. doi: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0701.005
- Allāma Ḥilli, H. (1990). Tabsere Al Motaallemin. Tehran: Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance Printing and Publishing Organization. [In Arabic]
- Ansari, M. (1986). Faraed al-Asoul. Qom: Abdullah Noorani Press. [In Arabic]
- Anifandis, G.&  et al. (2022). Bioethics in human embryology: The double-edged sword of embryo research. Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine, 68(3), 169-179. doi: 10.1080/19396368.2022.2052771
- Borujerdi, S. H. (1961). A collection of Shia hadiths in the rules of religion, Tehran: Al-Masaha Publication. [In Arabic]
- Castelyn, G. (2020). Embryo experimentation: Is there a case for moving beyond the ‘14-day rule.’ Monash Bioethics Review, 38(2), 181–196. doi: 10.1007/s40592-020-00117-x
- Cervera, R. P. & Stojkovic, M. (2009). Developments and challenges in human embryonic stem cell research in Spain. Stem Cell Reviews and Reports, 5(4), 334–339. doi: 10.1007/s12015-009-9093-x
- Charitos, I. A. & et al. (2021). Stem Cells: A Historical Review about Biological, Religious, and Ethical Issues. Stem Cells International, 1–11. doi: 10.1155/2021/9978837
- Dehkhoda, A. A. (1998). Dictionary. under the supervision of Mohammad Moeen and Seyed Jafar Shahidi, University of Tehran Publishing and Printing Institute. [In Persian]
- Eskandrian, H. & Shekari, R. A. (2013). Jurisprudence Rules. Tehran: Mizan Publication. [In Persian]
- Espey, E. Dennis, A. & Landy, U. (2019). The importance of access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion: A statement from women’s health professional organizations. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 220(1), 67–70. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.
- Fazel Lankarani, M. (2010). Description of the Shari’ah in explaining Tahrir al-Wasilah, Qom: Jurisprudential Center of Imams. [In Persian]
- Hosseini Ameli, S. M. J. (n.d.). Miftah al-Karamah. Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Tarath al-Arabi, First edition. [In Arabic]
- Ibn Manzoor, M. (1990). Lisan Al-Arab. Beirut: Dar Sader Publication, First edition. [In Arabic]
- Khalil bin Ahmad. (1985). Kitab al-Ain. Qom, Mehdi Makhzoumi and Ebrahim Samraei Publication. [In Arabic]
- Khomeini, S. R. (2012). Tahrir al-Wasila, Tehran: The Institute for Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works. [In Persian]
- Khomeini, S. R. (2012). Esteftaat (asking for a religious opinion). Tehran: The Institute for Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works. [In Persian]
-  Knowles, L. P. The Use of Human Embryos in Stem Cell Research. Stem Cell Network: Available from: www. stemcellnetwork. ca/uploads/file/whitepapers/The Use-of-Human Embryos. pdf. (Assessed on 04 December 2013).
- Lanza, R. & et al. (2005). Essentials of stem cell biology. Elsevier.
- Majlesi, M. B. (1985). Malz al-Akhyar fi Fahm Tahzib al-Akhbar. Qom: Ayatollah Marashi Publications. [In Arabic]
- Manawi, M. (1990). Al-Tawqif ala Moehmmat al-Ta’arif. Damascus: Mohammad Rezvan Dayeh Press. [In Arabic]
- Mashahadi, M. (2002). Tafsir Kunz al-Daqayq w Bahr al-Gharaib. Qom: Dar al-Ghadir. [In Arabic]
- Matthews, K. R. & Moralí, D. (2020). National human embryo and embryoid research policies: A survey of 22 top research-intensive countries. Regenerative Medicine, 15(7), 1905–1917. doi: https://doi.org/10.2217/rme-2019-0138
- McLaren, A. (2007). A scientist’s view of the ethics of human embryonic stem cell research. Cell Stem Cell, 1(1), 23–26. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2007.05.003
- Merleau-Ponty, N. Vertommen, S. & Pucéat, M. (2018). I6 passages: On the reproduction of a human embryonic stem cell line from Israel to France. New Genetics and Society, 37(4), 338–361. doi: 10.1080/14636778.2018.1548269
- Mieth, D. (2000). Going to the roots of the stem cell debate. EMBO Reports, 1(1), 4–6. doi: 10.1093/embo-reports/kvd020
- Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education. (2019). Ethics guide in stem cell research and regenerative medicine. [In Persian]
- Moosavi Bojnourdi, S. M. (2004). A Jurisprudential and Legal Study of Abortion, Special Reference to Imam Khomeini’s Viewpoints, Matin Research Journal, 7 (29-28), 41-55. dor: 20.1001.1.24236462.1384.7.2928.2.8
- Moosavi Bojnourdi, S. M. & Alizadeh. N. (2010). A Legal Study of Human Cloning: With Special Reference to Imam Khomeini’s Viewpoints. Matin Research Journal, 12(48), 17-39. dor: 20.1001.1.24236462.1389.12.48.7.8
- Mozafar, M. R. (1989). Principles of Jurisprudence. Qom: Nasser Publications. [In Arabic]
- Muhaqqiq al-Hilli, J. (1989). Sharaye al Esalam fi Masayil Alhalal w Alharam. Tehran: Esteghlal Publications, Second edition. [In Arabic]
- Najafi, M. H. (n.d.). Jawaher al- Kalam. Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Trath al-Arabi. 7th edition [In Arabic]
- Pabayo, R. & et al. (2020). Laws restricting access to abortion services and infant mortality risk in the United States. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(11), 3773. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17113773
- Ragheb Esfahani, H. (1953). Al-Mufardat fi Gharib al-Qur’an. Tehran: Mohammad Seyed Gilani Tehrani press. [In Arabic]
- Rahmati, M. (2012). Investigating the ethical aspects of using embryonic stem cells. Medical Ethics Quarterly, 7(25), 11-32. https://doi.org/10.22037/mej.v7i25.5154
- Rasekh, M. & et al. (2010). Ethical and legal aspects of the therapeutic use of stem cells. Tehran: Jahad daneshgahi. [In Persian]
- Sadeghi, M. (2004). Human cloning from the point of view of heavenly religious and its investigation from the point of view of Islamic jurisprudence in biological ethics from a legal, philosophical and scientific point of view. Tehran: Samt Publications. [In Persian]
- Shahid Awwal. J. (1991). Al-Lama’a al-Dimashqiya. Qom: Dar Al-Fikr, first edition.
- Shahid Thani, Z. (2011). Al-Rawdah al-Bahiyya fi Sharh al-Lama’a al-Dimashqiya. Edited by Seyyed Mahmoud Kalantar, Najaf Ashraf: Manshurat Al-Najaf. [In Arabic]
- Sheikh Sadouq, M. (1995). Al-Maqna. Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Trath al-Arabi. [In Arabic]
- Soltani Nasab, R. (1977). Human embryology: investigation of natural and unnatural human development. Tehran: National University of Iran. [In Persian]
- Tabatabaei, M. H. (1995). Tafsir al-Mizan. Translated by Seyyed Mohammad Bagher Moosavi, Qom: Qom teacher’s community. [In Persian]
- Tayanlovi Beyk, A. & et al. (2019). A review of stem cells, diabetes and metabolism researches in Iran. Iran’s diabetes and metabolism. 20(1), 47-54. https://ijdld.tums.ac.ir/article-1-6009-fa.html
- Teimuri, M. (2012). The conflict between the right of the fetus and the right of the mother in Imami jurisprudence and subject law. Medical jurisprudence, 5(13-14), 157-185. doi: https://doi.org/10.22037/mfj.v5i14-13.5037
- Thomson, J. A. & et al. (1998). Embryonic stem cell lines derived from human blastocysts. Science, 282(5391), 1145–1147. doi: 10.1126/science.282.5391.1145
- Tusi, M. (1997). Al-Khalaf. Qom: Islamic Publication Institute, first edition. [In Arabic]
- Zamakhshari, M. (1963). Moghddame al Adab. Tehran: Mohammad Kazem Imam Press. [In Arabic]
- Zakrzewski, W. & et al. (2019). Stem cells: Past, present, and future. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 10(1), 1–22. doi: 10.1186/s13287-019-1165-5
Matin Research Journal
Volume 25, Issue 100
Autumn 2023
Pages 1-30