Stem Cell and Related Therapies: Nurses and midwives representing all parties

Abstract

Nurses and midwives are part of health care in all the stages of our lives from preconception to death. Recent scientific advances have introduced new techniques of screening and diagnosis linked to stem cell isolation and therapies. These could affect us at any age and therefore nurses will be involved as carers and patients advocates for these techniques. In this article stem cell techniques and therapies are outlined, as well as some of the ethical challenges faced by various nursing groups, whether in adult, learning difficulties, mental health, paediatric, primary care, public health or health visiting areas. Nurses have to understand the ethical issues and the rights of all parties (donor, recipient and families), which may conflict with each other, to be able to weigh up the benefits and costs to each group involved. Answers have to be found on a case-by-case basis within local moral frameworks and law. Nurses represent all parties in these therapies and act as advocates for every patient group. They need to act in an interprofessional environment to promote the best interests of all their clients, both clinically and ethically.

Informed consent, genomic research and mental health: A integrative review

“…56 In the field of stem cell studies, ethical practice furthermore demands knowledge of biological processes and the possible clinical uses. 53 Similarly, Prows and Saldana (2009) 57 described specific key points nurses need to understand about pharmacogenetic testing when working with children with mental health disorders. Nurses must be able to educate patients and families on these matters, in order to ensure they can provide this information later themselves, for example, if medication is selected and prescribed by another doctor or advanced practice nurse.…”

“…In addition to this, in stem cell studies ethical practices also demand nurses to have knowledge of biological processes and the possible clinical uses. 53 The education of nurses has not kept pace with this development. In particular, the pharmacogenetic competence of nurses should be strengthened in the care of mental health disorders.…”

“…49 In the informed consent process, there is a risk that the person obtaining the consent may themselves influence the situation. 53 Confidentiality was described in several studies as one of the participants' major concerns, [50][51][52] which emphasizes the importance of a confidential and trusting relationship between the recruited and the potential participants. Cedar (2006) 53 considers this especially in the situation where there may be a need to contact the genetic donor again, sometimes after a long time, and whether this contact should be made or not.…”

“…Cedar (2006) 53 considers this especially in the situation where there may be a need to contact the genetic donor again, sometimes after a long time, and whether this contact should be made or not. 53…”

The Importance of Time in Ethical Decision Making

“…Nursing ethics had to focus on dramatic issues as a part of daily nursing practice shared with other health care professionals. Yet, nursing highlighted particularly the undramatic issues, such as the role of relationships and gender in decision-making processes, [11][12][13] the distribution of decisional power, and the mechanisms of empowerment and disempowerment of patients, relatives and health care workers 14 because nursing is highly influenced by the caring approach as a normative theory of ethics.…”