The Donation of Human Biological Material for Brain Organoid Research: The Problems of Consciousness and Consent.
Sci Eng Ethics February 5, 2024 Masanori Kataoka, Christopher Gyngell, Julian Savulescu et al.
Human brain organoids—three-dimensional tissue masses derived from stem cells that partially mimic the human brain—raise ethical concerns, especially the possibility that they might become conscious. This uncertainty challenges the validity of donor consent, as donors may not be adequately informed about potential consciousness and moral significance. Additionally, the risk of harm to organoids themselves questions the scope of donor autonomy. To address these issues, three consent-procedure proposals are offered: obtain project-specific rather than broad consent, assure donors that protective measures will be taken for organoids during research, and fulfill those assurances through precautionary measures.