2026-06-24 京都大学iPS細胞研究所
◆ヒト胎児組織研究はヒト発生の解明や再生医療、ワクチン開発などに重要である一方、人工妊娠中絶後の組織を利用するため慎重な倫理的配慮が求められる。研究では、日本には胎児組織研究を直接規定する法制度や指針がないことを踏まえ、①中絶を受ける女性への心理的・経済的負担を最小限に抑えた同意取得、②母体保護法との関係を踏まえた男性パートナーの同意や個人情報保護の扱い、③胎児組織の保管・利用・廃棄に関する法的位置付けや自治体ごとの胞衣条例への対応という三つの課題を抽出した。その上で、国際基準を尊重しつつ日本の法制度や社会的背景に適合した倫理ガバナンスを整備し、小規模な基礎研究から段階的に研究体制を構築することが、将来の再生医療や細胞治療の発展につながると提言している。
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.cira.kyoto-u.ac.jp/j/pressrelease/news/260624-150000.html
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17460751.2026.2686093
日本におけるヒト胎児組織研究に関連する倫理的、法的、社会的な問題 Ethical, legal, and social issues associated with human fetal tissue research in Japan
Misao Fujita,Kyoko AkatsukaAkane Hashimoto,Mari Honda,Tsunakuni Ikka,Minori Kokado, …
Regenerative Medicine Published:11 Jun 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/17460751.2026.2686093
ABSTRACT
The Informed Consent Standards for Human Fetal Tissue Donation for Research, published by the International Society for Stem Cell Research, provide important guidance for ethical research. They are particularly relevant in countries such as Japan, where clear legal frameworks for the use of human fetal and associated tissues obtained through induced abortion are lacking. However, because such guidelines do not fully account for national regulatory and legal frameworks, additional considerations are required to support their effective global implementation. Here, we describe three ethical, legal, and social issues in Japan – also shared in part by other countries – as examples of considerations relevant to the wider implementation of internationally recognized ethical standards. We discuss possible approaches to these issues, including: (1) appropriate selection of medical institutions capable of minimizing the burden on potential donors, (2) consideration of whether consent from the male partner should be obtained, and (3) clarification of the “Ena (placenta)” ordinance related to the use and disposal of dead fetuses. Ensuring appropriate integration between such ethical standards and local regulations is essential for the sustainable and ethical development of fetal tissue research.
