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Interprofessional spanning and building boundaries when supporting potential embryo donors to stem cell research.

When patients undergo fertility treatment, it is likely that a surplus of embryos will be created. The existence of these surplus embryos creates responsibilities for the clinics where they are stored and for the people who own them. Since 2001, the owners of the surplus embryos in the UK have the o...

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Published in:Journal of Interprofessional Care Vol. 31; no. 3; pp. 342 - 351
Main Authors: Machin, Laura L., Williams, R. A.
Format: research Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd May2017
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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        10.1080/13561820.2016.1253546
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        atl: Interprofessional spanning and building boundaries when supporting potential embryo donors to stem cell research.
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        au:
          Machin, Laura L.
          Williams, R. A.
        affil: Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
      sug:
        subj:
          Interprofessional Relations
          Embryo Transfer
          Stem Cell Research
          Human
          Infertility Therapy
          United Kingdom
          Semi-Structured Interview
          Qualitative Studies
          Collaboration
          Data Analysis
          Funding Source
      ab: When patients undergo fertility treatment, it is likely that a surplus of embryos will be created. The existence of these surplus embryos creates responsibilities for the clinics where they are stored and for the people who own them. Since 2001, the owners of the surplus embryos in the UK have the option to donate them to be used in stem cell research (SCR). This development has generated a new population—potentialembryo donors to SCR—who have unique support needs as they are neither fertility patients nor donors. However, little is known how lay and professional stakeholders associated with fertility treatment and SCR have conceptualised the support needs of potential embryo donors to SCR or have responded to the additional task once the option became available. In this article, we draw on Gieryn’s concept of boundary-work to explore how the emergence of donating embryos to SCR has provided opportunities for embryologists, counsellors, and scientists to shift, adapt, or confirm their roles, knowledge base, and areas of expertise. We present a thematic analysis of 21 in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with UK lay and professional stakeholders associated with fertility treatment and SCR. We conclude with reflections on the implications this boundary-work has for those contemplating donating embryos to SCR and the care they receive when making their decision. Such insights are pertinent given the current policy and practice discussions led by the National Donation Strategy Group to improve the care of donors in the UK.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
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        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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