Ethical Considerations on the Moral Status of the Embryo and Embryo-like Structures†

Overview

Journal Hum Reprod

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Reproductive Medicine

Date 2024 Sep 30

PMID 39344432

Authors

Guido Pennings

Wybo Dondorp

Mina Popovic

Susana Chuva de Sousa Lopes

Heidi Mertes

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The current article provides an ethical reflection on the moral status of the human embryo, which is a crucial factor in determining permissible actions involving embryos and the extent of their protection. It advocates for the extension of the research period for embryos to 28-days post fertilization. It also states that integrated embryo-like structures (ELSs) should not currently be given the same moral status as natural embryos. However, if they pass the relevant tests, they should be subject to the same rules as natural embryos.

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