Ethical implications of recruiting universal stool donors for faecal microbiota transplantation

Abstract

Faecal microbiota transplantation is an effective therapy for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection, with potential therapeutic applications in other health conditions. As research uncovers potential associations between the intestinal microbiome and various disease states, stool donor screening has become increasingly stringent, leading to low donor acceptance. Many stool banks have opted to recruit universal stool donors, who are encouraged to donate frequently over a prolonged period and whose stool is used to treat multiple patients. However, various ethical concerns arise when recruiting universal stool donors, which need to be addressed to mitigate harm to donors. In this Personal View, we describe the major ethical issues with universal stool banks across six domains: informed consent, privacy, the imposing of restrictions on autonomy, stewardship of microbiome information, financial incentives, and preventing a sense of obligation. We also suggest several priorities for future research that should be pursued to address these crucial issues and develop more donor-centric stool banks.