NATURE'S SURGEONS: BIOETHICAL DIMENSIONS IN THE MEDICAL USE OF Lucilia sericata LARVAE
25TH INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CONGRESS ON LIFE, ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES | CONGRESS, İstanbul, Türkiye, 23 - 25 Mayıs 2026, ss.1509-1510, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Doi Numarası: 10.30546/19023.978-9952-610-58-1.2026.100.1118
- Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1509-1510
- Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Larva Therapy (LT) is an effective biological debridement method increasingly recognized in the
treatment of chronic and infected wounds. Sterile larvae of Lucilia sericata provide significant
therapeutic benefits through the selective removal of necrotic tissue, infection control, and promotion
of wound healing. The growing burden of chronic wounds, rising antimicrobial resistance, and the need
for accessible treatments in low-resource healthcare settings have renewed interest in LT. However, the
therapeutic use of living organisms makes LT an important subject not only in clinical medicine but also
in ethical discourse.
The bioethical dimensions of LT can be evaluated within the frameworks of animal ethics, biomedical
ethics, and social acceptance. Since invertebrates remain outside legal protection in most jurisdictions,
the production, use, and disposal of flies and larvae raise important ethical concerns. In this context, the
principles of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement), humane production practices, minimization
of suffering, and appropriate euthanasia methods become central issues. From the perspective of human
ethics, the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice constitute the main ethical
framework. Informed consent, the psychological resistance described as the “yuck factor,” patient
sensitivity, pain management, and inequalities in healthcare access represent major ethical
considerations.
Although LT offers significant potential benefits in disaster settings, war conditions, and low-income
regions, practical limitations such as short shelf life, cold-chain requirements, and logistical barriers
remain substantial challenges. Furthermore, transgenic larval research introduces new ethical debates
related to biosafety, environmental ethics, and the concept of “naturalness.” Consequently, LT emerges
as a multidisciplinary field requiring comprehensive ethical evaluation not only regarding clinical
efficacy but also concerning invertebrate welfare, patient rights, and global health justice.
Keywords: Larva Therapy, bioethics, Lucilia sericata, larvae, wound care, animal ethics.