National Determinants of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Policy in Select Countries

Abstract

The policies which dictate the scope of embryonic stem cell research around the world are diverse reflecting primarily the country’s culture and posture on the status of a human embryo and beneficent duty in healing persons afflicted with disease. In this retrospective comparative study utilizing logistic regression six national factors were analyzed for their effect on permissive or restrictive human embryonic stem cell policies in fifty countries. These are literacy, age of citizens, type and size of government, religion, and funding. It was hypothesized that a high literacy rate, younger age of citizens, public funding, lower number of legislators, and unicameral government would favor a permissive policy whereas a higher percentage of Catholics, older age of citizens, private funding, greater number of legislators, bicameral government, and low literacy rate would favor a restrictive policy. The variables which were found to be statistically significant (P<.05) were funding and Catholicism. Results indicated public funding had a direct effect on permissive policies and percentage of Catholics in each country had an inverse effect on permissive policies surrounding embryonic stem cell research utilizing logistic regression. Culture will continue to influence the trajectory of embryonic stem cell policy navigating between the moral imperative of protection of the human embryo and curing those afflicted with disease.