Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Second BBVA Foundation
International Study on
Biotechnology
Attitudes to Stem Cell Research
and Hybrid Embryos
May , 2008
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
A general population survey on Biotechnology
15 countries in three continents: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark,
Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom, Sweden,
Israel, Japan, United States
1500 interviews per country (approx. 22,500 interviews in all)
The BBVA Foundation conducted the first edition of this study in 2003
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
ANALYSIS AREAS
General attitudes towards research with embryonic stem cells and hybrid embryos
•Awareness and understanding
•Perception of medical benefits
•Fears and reservations
•Acceptance of the use of embryos to obtain stem cells depending on their origin:
spare embryos vs. created embryos
•View of the moral condition of the embryo and acceptance of stem cell
research
•Creation of hybrid embryos to obtain stem cells
•Preference for regulatory level (European – national)
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Public understanding of
stem cells
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
AWARENESS ABOUT STEM CELLS
Recently information has been appearing about a type of cell called “stem cells”. Have you heard or read anything
about this kind of cell?
Percentage answering “yes”
Base: all interviewees
Sweden
86,4
Denmark
86,0
United Kingdom
75,1
Netherlands
74,7
Italy
66,2
France
65,4
Ireland
65,4
Spain
• Awareness varies from
one country to another
• Awareness stands in the
medium to high range
in most societies
60,2
Czech Republic
58,7
Germany
58,0
Poland
44,1
Austria
41,8
United States
76,2
Japan
33,4
Israel
39,2
0
20
40
60
80
100
AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Percentage having heard/read something about
stem cells and answering “true” to the statement
that “Stem cells can be transformed into different
types of cells that can then be grown into
specialised tissues like muscles or nerves”
Denmark
Percentage having heard/read something
about stem cells and answering “false” to the
statement that “Nowadays, stem cells are
usually extracted from human embryos
without destroying them”
16,0
75,5
Sweden
20,2
71,1
United Kingdom
65,0
17,0
Netherlands
63,0
19,1
Italy
53,6
France
53,4
Germany
49,8
Ireland
49,1
Czech Republic
14,3
10,9
8,2
15,5
11,3
41,9
Austria
6,1
32,4
Poland
9,7
29,5
United States
30,0
64,8
Japan
4,1
27,8
Israel
8,7
25,6
0
20
40
• Ignorance about the
fact that their extraction
involves destroying the
embryo
14,7
45,4
Spain
• Fair to good
understanding of the
properties of embryonic
stem cells
60
80
100
0
20
40
60
80
100
Base: total interviewees
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Views about stem cell
research
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
USEFULNESS, MORALITY AND RISKS
I am going to read you some sentences about research with human embryos that are a few days old to obtain stem cells
and I would like you to tell me how much you agree or disagree with each.
Base: All interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you totally disagree with the statement and 10 means that you totally agree
Is immoral (-)
Poses no serious risks (+)
Is very useful (+)
Denmark
7,0
Sweden
7,0
4,3
5,5
4,5
4,5
Spain
6,4
United Kingdom
6,3
4,6
4,6
Italy
6,2
4,8
4,7
France
6,1
4,7
Ireland
6,1
Czech Republic
6,1
5,1
4,9
Netherlands
6,0
5,2
4,8
5,0
5,4
Poland
4,9
Austria
United States
5,7
Japan
5,5
Israel
5,7
0
2
4
6
5,0
5,1
4,4
5,6
Germany
4,5
5,8
4,5
5,9
5,5
4,0
5,8
4,2
5,8
4,6
10
0
2
4
• Only a few
countries place
immorality
ahead of
usefulness
6,2
3,8
8
• Broad consensus
on the usefulness
of stem cell
research, though
without dispelling
concerns about
its risks or
morality
4,8
6
8
10
0
2
4
6
8
10
MEDICAL BENEFITS – EMBRYOS’ RIGHTS
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Can you please tell me how much you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Base: All interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 1, where 0 means you totally disagree with the statement and 10 means that you totally agree
The medical benefits for many human beings that can perhaps be obtained in the future thanks to research with
embryos that are a few days old are much more important than the embryos' rights
Medical benefits
Spain
Embryos’ rights
6,0
Czech Republic
5,7
Sweden
5,7
Denmark
+
5,4
France
5,2
Netherlands
5,2
Italy
5,0
United Kingdom
5,0
Poland
=
4,8
Germany
4,5
Ireland
4,3
Austria
4,1
+
United States
4,3
Japan
4,9
Israel
4,9
0
2
4
6
8
10
In the trade-off
between ends and
means, opinions
are divided
SPECIFIED MEDICAL BENEFITS
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Can you please tell me how much you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Base: All interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you totally disagree with the statement and 10 means that you totally agree
Research with stem cells from embryos that are a few days old should be supported as a means of finding
effective treatments for diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, or diabetes as soon as possible
Spain
6,8
Czech Republic
6,8
Denmark
6,6
United Kingdom
6,5
France
6,4
Sweden
6,4
Italy
6,3
Poland
6,1
Netherlands
6,0
Ireland
5,9
Germany
When the medical benefits
are spelled out as potential
treatments for what citizens
consider major diseases
ACCEPTANCE
GROWS
5,1
Austria
4,7
United States
5,5
Japan
5,6
Israel
5,8
0
2
4
6
8
10
INTERFERENCE IN NATURAL PROCESSES
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Can you please tell me how much you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Base: All interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you totally disagree with the statement and 10 means that you totally agree
Research with human embryos that are a few days old is an unacceptable interference into the natural processes of life
Germany
6,1
Austria
6,0
Poland
5,9
Ireland
Citizens in most
countries express
reservations about
interfering in natural
processes
5,6
Czech Republic
5,4
France
5,4
Italy
5,2
United Kingdom
5,0
Sweden
5,0
Netherlands
5,0
Spain
4,9
Denmark
4,7
United States
5,7
Japan
5,7
Israel
Feeling that there are
some domains which
should not be meddled
with
6,1
0
2
4
6
8
10
UNWANTED CONSEQUENCES: “THE SLIPPERY SLOPE”
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Can you please tell me how much you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Base: All interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you totally disagree with the statement. and 10 means that you totally agree
Allowing research with embryos that are a few days old in order to obtain stem cells for use in medicine will open the
door to other morally reprehensible uses
France
6,8
Germany
6,7
Austria
6,4
Sweden
6,4
Ireland
6,0
Poland
6,0
United Kingdom
5,9
Spain
5,7
Netherlands
5,4
Italy
5,3
Denmark
5,2
Czech Republic
5,2
United States
Widespread concern
about opening the door
to other, morally
reprehensible uses
5,9
Japan
6,6
Israel
6,2
0
2
4
6
8
10
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
View of the moral
condition of the
embryo
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
VIEW OF THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE EMBRYO
In comparative terms.
•The strictly biological view finds widest support in Denmark
and Sweden, where opinions are more evenly balanced
•The view of the embryo as close or identical to a human
being is held most emphatically in Austria, Germany and the
United States
A dominant view of the moral
condition of the few-day-old
embryo as close to or the same
as that of a human being
I'd like you to tell me which of the following four phrases you agree with the most. Base: All interviewees
Denmark
38,0
Sweden
35,9
United Kingdom
19,2
38,6
18,1
32,4
35,2
42,4
10,0
10,1
28,3
23,6
38
France
27,1
24,1
43,4
Spain
26,6
24,5
Czech Republic
25,9
26,9
Netherlands
24,2
14,5
Ireland
20,1
17,8
Germany
15,4
Austria
14,0
United States
Japan
8,8
Israel
0
43,6
7,2
52,8
7,9
49,2
10,3
47
22,5
60
16,0
80
has a moral condition closer to that of a
human being than a cluster of cells/ has the
same moral condition as a human being
DK/NA
24,7
41,7
40
has a moral condition halfway between that
of a cluster of cells and a human being
17,1
51,3
19,4
20
2,4
is a mere cluster of cells and it makes no
sense to talk about its moral condition
21,0
44,9
15,7
19,8
8,9
38,3
25,3
A human embryo that is a few days old
13,6
38,3
26,1
24,8
5,5
35,2
35,2
20,8
10,8
15,1
Italy
Poland
4,2
100
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
VIEW OF THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE EMBRYO
I'd like you to tell me which of the following four phrases you agree with the most. Base: All interviewees
Difference “a human being” – “a cluster of cells”
38,0
38,6
Denmark
0.6
35,9
35,2
Sweden
32,4
United Kingdom
28,3
Italy
26,6
Spain
25,9
Czech Republic
24,2
Netherlands
10.0
42,4
9.7
38,0
27,1
France
-0.7
16.3
43,4
8.6
35,2
38,3
12.4
38,3
14.1
20,8
Poland
22.3
43,6
20,1
Ireland
51,3
14,0
Austria
52,8
24,8
United States
0
20
has a moral condition closer to that of a
human being than a cluster of cells/ has the
same moral condition as a human being
21.9
41,7
40
38.8
38.2
47,0
19,8
Israel
is a mere cluster of cells and it makes no
sense to talk about its moral condition
35.9
24.4
49,2
8,8
Japan
24.8
44,9
15,4
Germany
A human embryo that is a few days old…
60
80
100
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
MORAL CONDITION OF THE EMBRYO AND RELIGION
Being a believer or a non believer conditions views about the moral status of the embryo. Non
believers have a greater tendency to see the embryo as a cluster of cells with no moral condition
A human embryo that is a few days old…
Spain
is a mere cluster of
cells and it makes no
sense to talk about its
moral condition
has a moral condition
halfway between
that of a cluster of
cells and a human
being
has a moral condition closer
to that of a human being
than a cluster of cells/ has the
same moral condition as a
human being
DK/NA
Non believer
40.8
26.4
19.4
13.4
Catholic
21.3
23.4
41.3
14
32
26.2
36.3
5.5
Catholic
23.5
23.2
47.8
5.5
Non believer
32.2
17.4
29.7
20.7
Catholic
19.1
18.2
46.4
16.3
Non believer
36.9
25.3
29.9
7.8
Catholic
25.9
24.6
40.7
8.7
Non believer
17.9
29.5
42.8
9.8
Catholic
13.4
22.8
56.6
7.1
Non believer
29.6
27.4
34.5
8.6
Catholic
16.5
27.4
49.4
6.7
Non believer
43.0
11.4
27.8
17.8
Catholic
19.3
15.2
44.5
21.1
Non believer
46.0
19.3
31.5
3.1
Protestant
37.0
18.6
39.4
4.9
Non believer
42.0
16.9
31.8
9.2
Protestant
31.4
18.6
37.9
12.1
Non believer
France
Ireland
Italy
Austria
Czech Republic
Poland
Denmark
Sweden
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
MORAL CONDITION OF THE EMBRYO AND RELIGION
A human embryo that is a few days old…
is a mere cluster of
cells and it makes no
sense to talk about its
moral condition
has a moral condition
halfway between
that of a cluster of
cells and a human
being
has a moral condition closer to
that of a human being than a
cluster of cells/ has the same
moral condition as a human
being
DK/NA
19
24.3
46.8
9.9
Catholic
13.5
29.7
52.3
4.4
Protestant
13.8
25.6
53.6
7
Non believer
33.2
36.3
28.1
2.4
Catholic
17.9
36.2
44.1
1.9
Protestant
8.2
31.7
57.5
2.6
Non believer
39.5
16.9
35.3
8.3
Catholic
15.2
14.7
61.4
8.7
Protestant
28.4
12.9
47.6
11.1
Unspecified Christian
26.9
11.1
48.5
13.5
Non believer
37.3
15.2
36.9
10.6
Catholic
19.7
20.1
48.4
11.9
Protestant
17.2
13.4
60.0
9.4
Unspecified Christian
16.7
14.4
61.7
7.3
Non believer
8.7
20.4
46.3
24.6
Buddhist
10.5
17.6
46.1
25.8
Non believer
33.1
25.8
24.2
16.8
Jew
20.1
24.5
41.7
13.7
Muslim
9.7
13.7
50.9
25.7
Non believer
Germany
Netherlands
United Kingdom
United States
Japan
Israel
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
MORAL CONDITION OF THE EMBRYO AND RELIGION
•Being a believer or non believer translates differently in each society
•Differences are more accentuated in Catholic than in Protestant countries
•In Austria and Germany, the strictly biological view finds only minority support, even among non
believers
•In Japanese society, being a believer or non believer has no impact on views of the embryo
I'd like you to tell me which of the following four phrases you agree with the most. Base: All interviewees
Non
believers
40,8
Catholics
21,3
26,4
20
19,4
41,3
23,4
0
40
60
13,4
Non
believers
46,0
14,0
Protestants
37,0
80
100
0
24,3
46,8
13,5
Protestants 13,8
0
29,7
52,3
25,6
18,6
39,4
40
60
80
3,1
Non
believers
4,9
Catholics 13,4 22,8
17,9
0
100
37,3
36,9 10,6
15,2
19,7 20,1
7,0
9,4
60,0
Protestant 17,213,4
60
80
100
Unspecified Christian 16,7 14,4
A human embryo that is a few days old…
0
20
60
56,6
40
60
7,1
80
10 0
46,3
24,6
Buddhists 10,5 17,6
47,1
25,8
20
40
60
80
100
7,3
61,7
40
9,8
11,9
48,4
4,4
53,6
40
20
42,8
Non
8,7 20,4
believers
0
20
29,5
Japan
9,9
Catholic
Catholics
31,5
United States
Non believers
19,0
19,3
20
Germany
Non
believers
Austria
Denmark
Spain
80
100
is a mere cluster of cells and it makes no sense to talk about its moral condition
has a moral condition halfway between that of a cluster of cells and a human being
has a moral condition closer to that of a human being than a cluster of cells/ has the same moral condition as a human
being
DK/NA
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Acceptance of the use of
embryos to obtain stem
cells depending on
their origin
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
ACCEPTANCE IN TWO SCENARIOS
Majority acceptance for research with spare embryos
A clear differentiation by
scenario
Division of opinions about research with created embryos though the
majority of countries stand in the rejection zone
I would like you to tell me how much you agree or disagree with each of the following two statements.
Base: All interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you totally disagree with the statement and 10 means that you
totally agree
Research with human embryos that are a few days old to obtain stem cells is morally acceptable in the case of embryos
left over from fertility treatments, that is, embryos that will never develop
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
6,8
6,7
6,5
6,3
6,1
5,9
5,9
5,8
5,5
5,2
5,1
4,3
5,1
4,6
5,6
Research with human embryos that are a few days old to obtain stem cells is morally acceptable in the case of embryos
that were created specifically for research use
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
4,8
4,9
6,2
4,9
Denmark Sweden Czech Nether
Republic lands
5,3
5,2
Spain
Italy
0.9
0.7
5,1
4,8
5,1
4,0
4,6
4,2
4,5
United France Poland Germany Ireland Austria United
Kingdom
States
4,3
4,7
Japan Israel
Difference
2.0
1.8
0.3
1.4
0.8
1.0
0.5
1.2
0.5
0.1
0.6
0.3
0.9
ACCEPTANCE IN TWO SCENARIOS
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
I would like you to tell me how much you agree or disagree with each of the following two statements. Base: All
interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you totally disagree with the statement and 10 means that you totally agree
Research with human
embryos that are a few
days old to obtain stem
cells is morally
acceptable
in the case of embryos left over from fertility
treatments, that is, embryos that will never
develop
in the case of embryos that were
created specifically for research use
Denmark
70,3
6,7 20,5 2,6
45,0
8,3
43,9
2,7
Netherlands
67,8
10,2 18,9 3,2
43,8
13,1
39,3
3,8
Sweden
65,0
9,8 18,4 6,7
Czech Republic
60,8
Italy
56,5
France
54,0
United Kingdom
52,8
Spain
51,1
11,8
15,6
Poland
41,9
17,5
Austria
32,5
24,6
30,8
24,3
12,1
13,3
43,5
14,1
44,3
10,9
12,9
39,1
31,5
9,7
38,0
16,3
18,9
30,6
13,7
40,0
7
20,3 12,7 15,9
43,9
38,4
24,7
39,2
13,2
48,4
12,5 20,2 10,8
14,3
12,2
57,3
11,5 21,1 6,7
Germany
Ireland
41,4
10,7
18,2
11,9
31,1
13,8
29,3
8,6
38,5
7,3
33,8
9
16,3
46,9
15,9
32,9
23,2 6,3
26,4
14,1
7,2
7,5
31,5
14,6
19,7
35,5
46,4
8,8
Agreement (6-10)
Intermediate (5)
Disagreement (0-4)
DK/NA
United States
46,6
Japon
26,0
Israel
9,9
23,8
51,0
0
39,5
20
33,8
8,5
40
60
39,2
4
22,8
16,5
32,4
80
40,8
8,1
100
0
20
11,3
23,6
45,1
37,5
9,5
40
16,1
41,8
60
4,5
8
80
100
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
CHANGES IN ACCEPTANCE OF THE USE OF SPARE EMBRYOS
Acceptance of the use of spare embryos has grown slightly
I would like you to tell me how much you agree or disagree with each of the following two statements. Base: All
interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you totally disagree with the statement and 10 means that you totally agree
Research with human embryos that are a few days old to obtain stem cells is morally acceptable in the case of
embryos left over from fertility treatments, that is, embryos that will never develop
10
9
8
7
6,1 =
5,8
6
6,3
5,7
5,9
5,5
6,1
5,6
5,9
5,5
5
5,2 =
5,1
5,5
4,9
4,3
3,6
4
3
2
1
0
France
Netherlands United Kingdom
Spain
2008
Italy
2003
Germany
Poland
Austria
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
CHANGES IN ACCEPTANCE OF THE USE OF CREATED EMBRYOS
Although the majority opinion remains against in many countries, average
agreement with the use of created embryos has advanced to a significant extent
The result is a narrowing of the acceptance gap between the two scenarios
I would like you to tell me how much you agree or disagree with each of the following two statements. Base: All
interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you totally disagree with the statement and 10 means that you totally agree
Research with human embryos that are a few days old to obtain stem cells is morally acceptable in the case of
embryos that were created specifically for research use
10
9
8
7
6
5
5,3
4,7
5,2
4,1
4
5,1
4,4
4,9
4,8
4,0
3,7
5,1
3,9
3
4,2
4,0
2,7
2,8
2
1
0
Spain
Italy
United Kingdom
Netherlands
2008
2003
France
Poland
Austria
Germany
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
ACCEPTANCE OF THE USE OF SPARE EMBRYOS ACCORDING
TO VIEWS OF THE EMBRYO
Views of the moral condition of the embryo exert a clear influence on the acceptance or
otherwise of its research use
I would like you to tell me how much you agree or disagree with each of the following two statements. Base: All
interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you totally disagree with the statement and 10 means that you totally agree
Research with human embryos that are a few days old to obtain stem cells is morally acceptable in the case of
embryos left over from fertility treatments, that is, embryos that will never develop.
According to views of the moral condition of the embryo
10
9
8
7,5
7
6
5
5,8
7,4
5,5
7,4
5,3
7,3
4,8
7,1
4,5
6,9
5,0
4
3
6,7
4,8
6,6
6,5
5,2
4,3
6,5
7,2
6,4
4,9
3,9
6,8
6,0
3,2
4,8
4,4
4,4
Japan
Israel
3,2
2
1
0
Denmark Sweden Czech Nether- United Spain
Republic lands Kingdom
France Italy Germany Poland Ireland Austria United
States
Views of the moral condition of the embryo
Answer that a human embryo that is a few days old is a mere cluster of cells and it makes no sense to talk about
its moral condition
Answer that a human embyo that is a few days old has the same moral condition as a human being
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
ACCEPTANCE OF THE USE OF CREATED EMBRYOS
ACCORDING TO VIEWS OF THE EMBRYO
I would like you to tell me how much you agree or disagree with each of the following two statements. Base: All
interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you totally disagree with the statement and 10 means that you totally agree
Research with human embryos that are a few days old to obtain stem cells is morally acceptable in the case of
embryos that were created specifically for research use. According to views of the moral condition of the
embryo
10
9
8
7,5
7
6,3
6
5
4
6,2
6,2
6,1
4,9
6
6
5,9
5,9
6,5
5,7
5,6
5,6
5,5
4,9
4,3
4,5
3,7
3,6
3,9
3,9
3
3,4
3,9
2,9
3,7
3,8
3,0
3,8
2,8
2
1
0
Czech
United NetherRepublic Kingdom lands
Italy
Spain
Poland Ireland Austria France Sweden Denmak Germa- United Japan
ny
States
Views of the moral condition of the embryo
Answer that a human embryo that is a few days old is a mere cluster of cells and it makes no sense to talk about
its moral condition
Answer that a human embyo that is a few days old has the same moral condition as a human being
Israel
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
SCENARIO OF NON DESTRUCTION OF THE EMBRYO
Scientists are looking into the possibility of obtaining stem cells from embryos left over from fertility treatments
using techniques that neither damage nor destroy the embryo. To what extent do you think obtaining stem cells
from embryos by means of techniques that neither damage nor destroy them is morally acceptable or not?
Base: All interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means it is totally unacceptable and 10 that it is totally acceptable
Denmark
7,2
Sweden
6,9
Czech Republic
In the case of a possible
technique that neither
damages nor destroys the
embryo
ACCEPTANCE
GROWS
6,6
Spain
6,4
Netherlands
6,4
United Kingdom
6,3
Ireland
6,3
Italy
6,1
France
6,0
Poland
5,8
Germany
5,4
Austria
5,0
United States
5,8
Japan
5,2
Israel
6,4
0
2
4
6
8
10
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Creation of hybrid
embryos
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
To what extent do you think it is
morally acceptable or not to
create hybrid embryos a few
days old to obtain stem cells that
would be used solely and
exclusively for research
purposes, that is, they would not
develop beyond these first few
days and the stem cells obtained
from them would not be
implanted in patients?
Base: All interviewees. Average on a scale
from 0 to 10, where 0 means it is totally
unacceptable and 10 that it is totally
acceptable
CREATION OF HYBRID EMBRYOS
Czech Republic
5,2
Spain
5,1
Denmark
4,9
Italy
5,0
Netherlands
The dominant
attitude is one of
rejection in most
societies
4,7
Sweden
4,5
Ireland
4,4
United Kingdom
4,2
Germany
3,8
Austria
3,6
France
3,6
Poland
3,5
United States
4,1
Japan
4,1
Israel
5,2
0
2
4
6
8
10
Before the question, interviewees were given a short presentation on its characteristics: “Recently, British scientists have sought permission from their government to create what are
known as hybrid embryos, that is, embryos resulting from the union of biological material from two different species (human, animal). Specifically, the nucleus is extracted from the
egg of an animal (a rabbit, a cow) and replaced by the nucleus of an adult human cell. The stem cells obtained from this hybrid embryo that is a few days old will be practically
100% human. These stem cells could only be used to advance biomedical research. They would never be used in patients and nor would the hybrid embryos be allowed to develop
beyond this preliminary stage"
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
FEARS ABOUT THE CREATION OF HYBRID EMBRYOS
Can you please tell me how much you agree or disagree with the statement I am about to read to you? “If we allow the
creation of hybrid embryos a few days old for the purposes of research, we will end up creating some sort of monster like
in the Frankenstein book or movie” Base: All interviewees. Average on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you totally disagree with the
statement and 10 means that you totally agree
6,5
Poland
6,0
France
Austria
• Predominant in most countries is
the fear that this technique could
get out of control and lend itself to
dangerous uses
5,8
Germany
5,4
Ireland
5,4
Italy
5,3
Spain
5,0
United Kingdom
5,0
Czech Republic
• In some countries (Denmark,
Netherlands, Sweden) rejection
appears to have less to do with
such fears and possibly more to
do with perceptions that it is
interfering in nature
4,9
Sweden
4,1
Netherlands
4,0
3,7
Denmark
United States
4,6
Japan
5,6
Israel
5,9
0
2
4
6
8
10
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Preference for regulatory
level
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
PREFERRED REGULATORY LEVEL IN GENERAL CASES
In general, what do you think is the better solution, for laws and regulations to be decided at national
level, that is, for them to the responsibility of each individual member country, or for them to be
decided at European level, that is, for them to be the responsibility of the European Union?
Base: All interviewees in Europe
In most European countries,
the general preference is for
laws and regulations to be
decided nationally. This is
especially the case in the
United Kingdom, Sweden
and Denmark
The exceptions: Germany, Italy
and Spain, whose citizens
would rather laws and
regulations were decided in
Europe, and France, where
opinions are more divided
At European level
At national level
It depends/both
Germany
44,6
30,0
Spain
43,5
Italy
40,4
France
39,9
Netherlands
23,5
25,4
Poland
28,6
Denmark
28,0
United Kingdom
20,7
Austria
20,3
Sweden
18,9
Ireland
0
12,2
22,6
11,6
15,6
40,1
20,7
3,2
14,0 2,1
65,0
7,7 6,5
44,6
28,2
60,1
6,9
18,1
40,3
40
6,6
20,5
55,9
20
4,5
11,5 2,4
47,7
17,9
5,6
20,8
48,9
32,6
Czech Republic
19,8
40,0
37,2
DK/NA
28,1
60
2,9
13,7
80
100
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
REGULATION OF RESEARCH WITH EMBRYOS
In this specific case, preferences for a given regulatory level are linked to general preferences for
one or other level of decision, i.e., the fact the matter in hand is stem cell research does not
substantially alter citizens’ opinions
-Clear preference for European legislation: France, Germany, Italy and Spain
-Clear preference for national legislation: Denmark, Sweden, Austria, United Kingdom and
Ireland
France
At present, European Union
countries have different laws and
regulations concerning research
with embryos. In your opinion, who
should regulate research with
embryos that are a few days old?
Base: All interviewees in Europe
60,9
29,5
9,6
Germany
54,2
Italy
53,8
26,1
20,1
Spain
52,5
28,3
19,2
Netherlands
32,5
50,9
Czech Republic
46,7
46,5
Poland
2,4
40,4
42,6
Denmark
13,3
13,1
39,1
34,4
18,3
60,4
5,1
The European Union
The (NATIONALITY) government
DK/NA
31,8
Sweden
Austria
30,2
Ireland
29,8
United Kingdom
59,2
55,9
13,9
48,0
20
22,1
58,1
29,6
0
8,9
40
60
12,3
80
100
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Synthesis
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Research with embryos to obtain stem cells
Ends
Means
General and specific
medical benefits
Use of embryos /
embryos’ rights
Countries exhibit very
different reactions in this
trade-off between ends
and means
• A clear perception of
usefulness
• Specific medical
benefits activate
approval
• Moral reservations
• Idea of natural-anti natural
(domains which should not
be meddled with)
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Believer or
non
believer
influences
View of the moral
condition of the
embryo
influences
Acceptance of
the use of
embryos
A clear differentiation
by scenario
Widespread
approval for the use
of spare embryos
Opinions more
divided on created
embryos though
rejection prevails
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
Map of countries regarding research with embryos to
obtain stem cells
+
Denmark, Czech Republic, Sweden.
Spain, Netherlands
-
RESERVATIONS
FAVORABLE ATTITUDES
United Kingdom, France and Italy
Ireland, Poland, United States and Israel
Austria, Germany,
Japan
-
+
Department of Social Studies and Public Opinion
TECHNICAL NOTE
Universe: in each country, general population aged 18 and over.
Method: administered face-to-face survey in the interviewee’s home.
Sample size and distribution: 1,500 cases in each of the 15 countries. Multistage
sample distribution stratified by region (NUTS classification or equivalent)/size of
habitat, with primary units selected at random. Selection of individual respondents
by the last birthday rule.
Sampling error: the sampling error estimated is ±2.6%, for a confidence level of
95.5% and in the worst-case scenario (p=q=0.5).
Survey coordinated by TNS-Opinión. The fieldwork was conducted between April
and June 2007 and January and February 2008.