The drawing-up of laws on research involving human embryos in Australia : lack of an Islamic voice

The Australian government recognizes stem cell research as an essential activity in transforming the nation’s medical sector. However, due to ethical controversies surrounding human embryonic stem cell (HESC) research and regulatory hurdles, the stem cell field has been complex in the nation. This article attempts to illuminate the Islamic perspective on HESC and why implementing this approach would be helpful in Australia, especially in extending the 14-day limit which is placed on the use of human embryos in research. While the Islamic faith has long been the subject of numerous debates about its significance in today’s scientifically and technologically advanced world, its utilitarian and liberal stance on HESC will prove its contemporaneity. Islam is heavily invested in education as it specifically imposes on all individuals a duty to gain knowledge. In particular, the Islamic scholarly community encourages knowledge and research that can help maximize health and wealth. This is a commonality that the Islamic faith shares with the utilitarian view, which also contends for flexible regulations in HESC that would help provide maximum pleasure and reduce pain for the greatest number of people. Despite the liberal views held by the Islamic scholarly community regarding HESC research, these views were absent in the legislative reviews, including Legislation Review: Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002 and the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 (Lockhart Review) and Report of the Independent Review of the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002 and Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 (Heerey Review). The object of these reviews was to evaluate the regulatory framework, which comprises the Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002 (Cth) (PHC Act) and the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 (Cth) (RIHE Act). The government conducted the reviews to facilitate a deep discussion amongst stakeholders, including religious organizations, government agencies, laypeople, and the scientific community.