The legal status of embryos and implications for reproductive technologies and biotechnology research

The legal status of embryos in American law is changing. At present, most states do not afford embryos the same protections as a born person, but some states are attempting to change this standard. Granting embryos the same legal status as born human beings poses a significant problem for industries...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe journal of biolaw & business Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 17
Main Author Bowens, Krietta Kai
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 2006
Subjects
Adult Stem Cells
Beginning of Human Life
Civil Rights - legislation & jurisprudence
Cryopreservation
Embryo Disposition - legislation & jurisprudence
Embryo Research - legislation & jurisprudence
Embryo, Mammalian
Embryonic Stem Cells
Federal Government
Genetic Therapy
Homicide - legislation & jurisprudence
Human Experimentation - standards
Humans
Ownership - legislation & jurisprudence
Personhood
Reproductive Techniques, Assisted - legislation & jurisprudence
State Government
United States
United States
Legal Approach
Genetics and Reproduction
Biomedical and Behavioral Research
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Summary:The legal status of embryos in American law is changing. At present, most states do not afford embryos the same protections as a born person, but some states are attempting to change this standard. Granting embryos the same legal status as born human beings poses a significant problem for industries that work with embryos, especially fertility treatment facilities and scientists researching stem cell and gene therapy technologies. This paper describes the methods of defining embryos in American law, and discusses the implications of granting embryos the same rights as born persons for the reproductive technology and scientific research industries.
ISSN:1095-5127