Is Fetal Tissue Research Legal?
• Fetal tissue research is legal in the United States. In 1975 the law was clarified to say such research is permitted if “conducted only in accordance with any applicable state or laws regarding such activities (45 C.F.R. 46, Sec. 210). • In 1993 Congresses passed the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act (Public Law 103-43), which contained language restricting fetal tissue transplantation research. Prior to 1993, there was a five-year federal moratorium on fetal tissue transplantation research, but through and Executive Order the ban was lifted. The ability to conduct research using fetal tissue for other purposes had not been affected by the ban. The 1993 Revitalization Act amended the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289 et seq.) as follows: • In General The Secretary may conduct or support research on transplantation of human fetal tissue for therapeutic purposes. • Source of Tissue Human fetal tissue may be used in research carried out under paragraph (1) regardle
