TY - JOUR

T1 - Interprofessional spanning and maintaining boundaries when supporting potential embryo donors to stem cell research

AU - Machin, Laura Louise

AU - Williams, Richard Alun

N1 - This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Interprofessional Care on 31/01/2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13561820.2016.1253546

PY - 2017/4

Y1 - 2017/4

N2 - 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 - potential embryo 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 paper, 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 between September 2006 and January 2007 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.

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 - potential embryo 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 paper, 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 between September 2006 and January 2007 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.

KW - Professional boundaries

KW - professional relations

KW - power

KW - Embryo donation

KW - Stem Cell Research

KW - qualitative methodology

U2 - 10.1080/13561820.2016.1253546

DO - 10.1080/13561820.2016.1253546

M3 - Journal article

VL - 31

SP - 342

EP - 350

JO - Journal of Interprofessional Care

JF - Journal of Interprofessional Care

SN - 1356-1820

IS - 3

ER -