Ethical Implications of Recruiting Universal Stool Donors for Fecal Transplants

Source: Yale Global Health Review

Although I have performed multiple fecal transplants for recurrent Clostridium difficile

infections, with donor stool coming from OpenBiome, I have not given much thought to the ethical implications of recruiting universal stool donors. My focus has been on the risk/benefit of the procedure to the patient.

Kudos to my colleague Dr. Susy Hota and her collaborators on this truly unique prospective on the ethical implications of recruiting universal stool donors, published in Lancet Infectious Diseases.

For example, informed consent for stool donors should take into consideration that the microbiome may convey sensitive personal information such as travel history, past exposures and sexual practices and may act as a pressure on various aspect of a donor's lifestyle. The intestinal microbiota is also a source of health information that may guide clinical decision-making in the future. Mechanisms to deal with these issues should be developed. Further consideration should be given on what is appropriate compensation for stool donors.

The role of universal stool donor is not as simple as it appears.