Expanding the ethical debate on human artificial placenta trials

Bibliographic Data

ID21787479
AuthorsAlice Cavolo (0000-0002-3921-0617, University of Zurich, corresponding author), Daniel Pizzolato (0000-0003-3954-5924, KU Leuven)
Year2025
Volume21
Issue1
Pages9-15
Publication date2025-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueResearch Ethics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1747-0161 • E-ISSN: 2047-6094
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/17470161241259127
OpenAlexW4399319308
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited17

Artificial placentas (APs) are technologies that mimic the human placenta to treat extremely preterm infants. Being an invasive and risky technology, it will raise important ethical questions for human trials. Hence, in this Topic Piece we provide a blueprint of further issues to investigate. First, counselling will have the double role of providing trial information as well as (non) treatment counselling. This requires extra training and the development of ad hoc decision aids to support counselling and parents’ decision-making. Second, more stakeholder involvement is needed. Direct stakeholders, such as parents, clinicians, and researchers, can help develop the decision aids and provide insight on potentially overlooked issues. Society should also be involved to determine whether AP trials and implementation should be subsidized, and the ethical implications of not subsidizing. Third, a proper cost-benefit analysis should be conducted to determine the exact cost of the technology

Biology · Engineering ethics · Environmental ethics · Fetus · Human placenta · Placenta · Political science · Pregnancy · Sociology · Engineering · Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Organ Donation and Transplantation · Philosophy

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