Navigation auf zora.uzh.ch

Search ZORA

ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive)

Ethical reflections on organizing the first human trial of artificial womb technologies

Cavolo, Alice; Pizzolato, Daniel (2024). Ethical reflections on organizing the first human trial of artificial womb technologies. Prenatal Diagnosis, 44(3):336-342.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate how to protect participants in the artificial womb technology (AWT) human trials.
Method: We compared randomized controlled trials and single arm trials to understand which trial design best balances the interests of science and participants. We also compared AWT trials with comparable settings to understand how to protect participants.
Results: Randomized trials might fail in reaching a sizeable sample, which could pointlessly expose participants to risks. Furthermore, parents who choose to participate in the trial might expect to receive AWT. Failed expectations might distress parents and hinder the therapeutic relationship. The trial is divided into two steps. First, delivery into AWT involves two participants: the mother and the fetus. As AWT requires a C‐section, the procedure cannot be carried out without the mother's consent regardless of fetal benefit. Treatment in AWT, involves one participant: the infant. As for any other invasive intervention, the AWT trial should be suspended if harmful.
Conclusions: A single arm trial could prevent some of the methodological and ethical challenges of the randomized trials. Moreover, better decisional tools should be developed to help parents decide whether to participate in the AWT trial. For example, using visual aids or showing the AWT.

Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:04 Faculty of Medicine > Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine
Dewey Decimal Classification:610 Medicine & health
Scopus Subject Areas:Health Sciences > Obstetrics and Gynecology
Health Sciences > Genetics (clinical)
Uncontrolled Keywords:Genetics (clinical), Obstetrics and Gynecology
Language:English
Date:March 2024
Deposited On:15 Mar 2024 09:54
Last Modified:31 Dec 2024 02:36
Publisher:Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
ISSN:0197-3851
OA Status:Closed
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/pd.6521
PubMed ID:38204186

Metadata Export

Statistics

Citations

Dimensions.ai Metrics
2 citations in Web of Science®
3 citations in Scopus®
Google Scholar™

Altmetrics

Downloads

1 download since deposited on 15 Mar 2024
1 download since 12 months
Detailed statistics

Authors, Affiliations, Collaborations

Similar Publications