Human stem cell research: some controversies in bioethics and public policy

In the United States, controversy has raged about ethical public policies toward some potential sources of human stem cells for research, particularly human embryos left over from in vitro fertilization (IVF) or created through somatic cell nuclear transfer. This article critically examines the ethical and policy issues, particularly as they have emerged in the reports and recommendations of two presidentially appointed advisory bodies: The National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) and the Presidentʹs Council on Bioethics (PCB).