Could artificial placenta be used as experimental therapy to save extremely preterm babies?
Marcin Uhlik
Papieski Wydział Teologiczny w Warszawie, Collegium Joanneum (Poland)
Abstract
Ectogenesis means in vitro fertilization and embryo development outside mother’s womb. Nowadays there is no technology which allows to control complete human growth in an artificial environment. Futuristic insight into the society breeding in Hatchery and Conditioning Centres was described by Aldous Huxley in a dystopian fiction Brave New World and shown in a film Sexmission directed by Juliusz Machulski. Church’s Magisterium condemn hypothetic possibility of complete human ectogenesis, because it is in opposition to the dignity of a human being. Expression of this teaching is found in the Encyclical Evangelium vitae, Instructions of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Iura et bona, Donum vitae and Dignitas personae. A partial ectogenesis is actually used
in neonatology. It enables to sustain a life of a child from 22 weeks of gestation. The Catholic Church teaching gives moral evaluation of actions which concern
using experimental therapy on preterm infants. This article presents a mechanical ventilation therapy of preterm infants, a current state of research on artificial placenta conducted on animals, and an answer to the question if it is morally permissible to use hypothetical artificial placenta technique on extremely preterm
human children.
Keywords:
morality of experimental therapy, preterm birth, artificial placenta, ectogenesisReferences
Alan, E., Guttmacher, M.D., Catherine, Y., Spong, M.D. (2015). The human planceta project: it’s time for real time. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. October, S3–S5.
Google Scholar
Beck, S., Wojdyla, D., Say, L., Betran, AP., Merialdi, M., Requejo, JH., Rubens, C., Menon, R. & F.A. Van Look, P. (2010). The worldwide incidence of preterm birth: a systemaic review of maternal mortality and morbidity. Bull World Health Organisation 88, 31–38. Pobrane z: https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/88/1/08- 062554/en/ .
Google Scholar
Bird, S.D. (2018). Artificial placenta: Analysis of recent progress. Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol., 208, 61–70.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.11.005
Google Scholar
Bryner, B., Gray, B., Perkins, E., Davis, R., Hoffman, H., Barks, J., i in. (2015). An extractorporeal artificial placenta supports extremly premature lambs for 1 week. J. Pediatr. Surg. 50, 44–49.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2014.10.028
Google Scholar
Cannold, L. (1995). Women, ectogenesis and ethical theory. J. Appl. Philos., 12(1), 55–64.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5930.1995.tb00119.x
Google Scholar
Czochańska, J. (2007). Czynniki ryzyka drgawek w okresie noworodkowym u dzieci urodzonych z bardzo małą masą ciała, u których stwierdzono leukomalację około komorową. Neurologia dziecięca, 16 (31), 77.
Google Scholar
Gray, B.W., El-Sabbagh, A., Zakem, S.J., Koch, K.L., Rojas-Pena, A., Owens, G.E., i in. (2013). Development of an artificial placenta V: 70h veno-venus extracorporeal life support after ventilatory failure in premature lambs. J. Pediatr. Surg., 48, 145–153.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2012.10.030
Google Scholar
Guttmacher, A.E., Maddox, Y.T., Spong, C.Y. (2014). The human placenta project: placental structure, development and function in real time. Placenta, 35, 303–304.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2014.02.012
Google Scholar
Huxley, A. (2013). Nowy wspaniały świat. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Muza.
Google Scholar
Jan Paweł II. (1982). Przemówienie do uczestników Sympozjum Papieskiej Akademii Nauk, 23 X 1982. AAS, 75, 37.
Google Scholar
Jan Paweł II. (1995). Encyklika Evangelium vitae. Rzym.
Google Scholar
Jeziorek, A. (2019). Informacja z rozmowy z lek. med. Anettą Jeziorek, z Oddziału Neurologii i Pediatrii, Samodzielnego Publicznego Dziecięcego Szpitala Klinicznego w Warszawie.
Google Scholar
Kohelet, D., Schohat, R., Lusky, B., Reichman, B. (2006). Risk factors for seizures in very low birthweight infants with perivntricular leukomalacia. J. Child. Neurol., 21(11), 965–970.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/08830738060210111301
Google Scholar
Kongregacja Nauki Wiary. (1980). Instrukcja Iura et bona. Rzym.
Google Scholar
Kongregacja Nauki Wiary. (1987). Instrukcja Donum vitae. Rzym.
Google Scholar
Kongregacja Nauki Wiary (2008). Instrukcja Dignitas personae. Rzym.
Google Scholar
Liu, L., Oza, S., Hogan, D., Perin, J., Rudan, I., Lawn, JE., i in. (2015). Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality in 2000–2013, with projections 37 to inform post 2015 priorities: an updated systematic analysis. Lancet, 385, 430–440.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61698-6
Google Scholar
Mandt, D., Gruber, P., Markovic, M., Tromayer, M., Rothbauer, M., Kratz, S.R.A., Ali, S.F., Van Hoorick, J., Holnthoner, W., Mühleder, S., Dubruel, P., Van Vlierberghe, S., Ertl, P., Liska, R., Ovsianikov, A. (2018). Fabrication of biometric placental barrier struc-tures within a microfluidic device utlizing two-photon polymerization. Int. J. Bioprint, 4 (2), 144.
Google Scholar
May, A. (2017). Mom pleads with doctor to resuscitate baby delivered at 21 weeks. “Miracle” daughter is now a healthy toddler. USA Today. PM EST Nov 14, 2017. Pozyskane z: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/11/14mom-delivers-earliest-premature-baby-ever-and-chooses-resuscitate-miracle-aughter-now-healthy-toddle/861386001/.
Google Scholar
Miura, Y., Matsuda, T., Usuda, H., Watanabe, S., Kitanishi, R., Saito, M., i in. (2016). A parallelized pumpless artificial placenta system significantly prolonged survival time in a preterm lamb model. Artif Organs, 40, E61–68.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/aor.12656
Google Scholar
Office of Communications NICHD. (2018). Human Placenta Project. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Pobrane z: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/research/supported/HPP/default.
Google Scholar
Stolica Święta. (1983). Karta Praw Rodziny. L’Osservatore Romano, 25 XI.
Google Scholar
The National Catholic Biotehics Center. (2015). Early Induction of Labor. The National Catholic Bioethics Center.Pobrane z: https://www.ncbcenter.org/files/9314/4916/3467/NCBCsummFAQ_EarlyInduction.pdf.
Google Scholar
Yuko, E.I. (2012). Is the development of artificial wombs ethically desirable? Dublin: City University.
Google Scholar
Authors
Marcin UhlikPapieski Wydział Teologiczny w Warszawie, Collegium Joanneum Poland
Ks. mgr Marcin UHLIK – kapłan Archidiecezji Warszawskiej. W 2003 r. uzyskał tytuł magistra biotechnologii na Wydziale Biologii Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego. Doktorant w Zakładzie Paleobiologii i Ewolucji Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego. Zajmuje się duszpasterstwem pracowników naukowych wydziałów przyrodniczych Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego „modlitwaprzyrodnikow.pl”.
Statistics
Abstract views: 362PDF downloads: 79
