Mitochondrial replacement techniques and Mexico's rule of law: on the legality of the first maternal spindle transfer case

Palacios-González, César; Medina-Arellano, María de Jesús

doi:10.1093/jlb/lsx035

Cited by 7 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Selected countries were investigated regarding the regulatory status of the clinical use of MMT. As many countries have government at both national and state levels, relevant regulation might be nationally inconsistent or vary by state, as shown by a recent analysis of the legality of MMT in Mexico ( Palacios-González and de Jesús Medina-Arellano, 2017 ). In the present study, we focused our regulatory analysis on national (federal) and international policies to compare the relevant regulations in select countries.…”

Section: Survey Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mexico has no laws directly pertaining to reproductive medicine ( Palacios-González and de Jesús Medina-Arellano, 2017 ) or human germline genetic modification ( Ishii, 2017a ). However, the Regulation to the General Health Law on Health Research 1987 states that ‘research on assisted fertilisation will only be admissible when it is applied to solve sterility problems that cannot be solved otherwise’ ( Table 2 ).…”

Section: Legal Analysis Of Mmtmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the Regulation to the General Health Law on Health Research 1987 states that ‘research on assisted fertilisation will only be admissible when it is applied to solve sterility problems that cannot be solved otherwise’ ( Table 2 ). A legal study judged that the first SNT case in Mexico was illegal because the MMT was performed to prevent the onset of a mitochondrial disease (Leigh syndrome) in offspring, not to ‘solve sterility problems’ ( Palacios-González and de Jesús Medina-Arellano, 2017 ). However, this judgement can be rebutted because women with an mtDNA mutation responsible for Leigh syndrome have undergone ‘sterility problems’ of being unable to conceive as well as carry pregnancy to full term ( Ishii, 2017b ).…”

Section: Legal Analysis Of Mmtmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although MMT have the potential to address unmet reproductive needs, all of these techniques remain experimental with regard to human reproduction. Moreover, the cross-border use of SNT between the USA and Mexico suggests that the clinical use of MMT is likely to spread in an unregulated manner ( Ishii, 2017b , Palacios-González and de Jesús Medina-Arellano, 2017 ). Some studies have analysed the legalization process of PNT and SNT in the UK and the regulatory discussions in the USA ( Castro, 2016 , Cohen and Adashi, 2016 , Cohen et al, 2015 , Ishii, 2014 , Schandera and Mackey, 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mitochondrial manipulation in fertility clinics: Regulation and responsibility

Ishii¹,

Hibino²

2018

Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online

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The clinical uses of cytoplasmic transfer and pronuclear transfer for infertility treatment have raised concerns, leading to restrictive regulatory responses in both the USA and China. In 2015, the UK legalized nuclear transfer from oocytes and zygotes to prevent the onset of serious mitochondrial disease in the children of affected mothers. A research team in the USA then performed egg nuclear transfer, with subsequent embryo transfer in Mexico, to prevent mitochondrial disease. A live birth resulted, but the cross-border activity attracted attention from regulatory authorities. In order to respond appropriately to the likelihood of the wider use of such mitochondrial manipulation techniques (MMT), the present study first surveyed countries where MMT have been clinically implemented or where such experimental procedures are advertised on the internet. Sixteen countries were selected for an analysis of the legal position regarding germline genetic modification and egg donation. It was found that regulation of the clinical use of MMT could be broken down into three categories: (i) largely prohibited (USA and China), (ii) not regulated (Northern Cyprus and Ukraine), and (iii) insufficiently regulated (the remaining 12 countries, including Mexico). The reasons for no or insufficient regulation included no intention to oversee experimental procedures, no consideration of the manipulation in eggs, unclear technical terms and ambiguous medical purposes. To protect future children, this study underscores the pressing need for regulatory frameworks with policies that cover MMT. Wider implications regarding the responsible implementation of procedures in experimental reproductive medicine are discussed.

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Section: Survey Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Legal Analysis Of Mmtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Legal Analysis Of Mmtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Mitochondrial manipulation in fertility clinics: Regulation and responsibility

Ishii¹,

Hibino²

2018

Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online

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“…At present, Singapore and Australia are considering the legalization of MR for the prevention of mitochondrial disease in offspring (Winkler 2018). Meanwhile, MR has already been performed for infertility treatment in Ukraine, and for disease prevention in Mexico, without being subject to appropriate regulations, (Ishii 2017, Palacios-Gonzalez and Medina-Arellano 2017, Ishii and Hibino 2018.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Should Long-Term Follow-up Post-Mitochondrial Replacement be Left up to Physicians, Parents, or Offspring?

Ishii

2019

The New Bioethics

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UK law permits parents to use mitochondrial replacement (MR) to have genetically-related children without serious mitochondrial disease. However, long-term follow-up is required for each case. Whether this follow-up should be left to physicians, parents, or offspring has not been established. Due to the experimental status of MR, physicians must inform parents of the risks and the importance of follow-up tailored to a specific mitochondrial disease. Given that the use of MR is a responsible exercise of reproductive freedom, parents should ensure that the follow-up is performed properly and in the best interests of their offspring. On becoming legally competent, the resulting children should be entitled to refuse follow-up provided that the prevention of mitochondrial disease with no adverse effects has been evident till then. This offspring-centred long-term follow-up approach might also be applied to the use of MR for infertility treatment, even though the primary endpoint is healthy live births.

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Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques, Scientific Tourism, and the Global Politics of Science

Chan¹,

Palacios-González²,

Arellano³

2017

Hastings Center Report

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The United Kingdom is the first and so far only country to pass explicit legislation allowing for the licensed use of the new reproductive technology known as mitochondrial replacement therapy. The techniques used in this technology may prevent the transmission of mitochondrial DNA diseases, but they are controversial because they involve the manipulation of oocytes or embryos and the transfer of genetic material. Some commentators have even suggested that MRT constitutes germline genome modification. All eyes were on the United Kingdom as the most likely location for the first MRT birth, so it was a shock when, on September 27, 2016, an announcement went out that the first baby to result from use of the intervention had already been born. In New York City, United States‐based scientist John Zhang used maternal spindle transfer (one of the recognized MRT methods) to generate five embryos for a woman carrying oocytes with deleterious mutations of the mitochondrial DNA. Zhang then shipped the only euploid embryo to Mexico, where it was transferred to the mother's uterus. Zhang's team's travel across international borders to carry out experimental procedures represents a form of scientific tourism that has not been properly ethically explored; it can, however, have seriously detrimental effects for developing countries.

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Mitochondrial replacement techniques and Mexico's rule of law: on the legality of the first maternal spindle transfer case

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Mitochondrial manipulation in fertility clinics: Regulation and responsibility

Mitochondrial manipulation in fertility clinics: Regulation and responsibility

Should Long-Term Follow-up Post-Mitochondrial Replacement be Left up to Physicians, Parents, or Offspring?

Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques, Scientific Tourism, and the Global Politics of Science

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