[Therapeutic and reproductive cloning from a legal point of view].
The German constitution contains no easy answers to the question of whether and under what circumstances an altering of the current embryo protection law might lead to the therapeutic or even reproductive cloning of human beings being allowed. Due to the fact that guiding fundamental research does not exist, the time for a decision has surely not yet come. But should concrete opportunities for therapy based on therapeutic cloning begin to emerge or it become clear that reproductively cloned humans are not genetically disadvantaged when compared with human beings engendered through impregnation (an unrealistic prospect from a present-day perspective), then the legislator himself will have to come to a decision, openly and by taking a balanced account of his social responsibilities. Hiding behind the constitution by, for instance, simply alluding to human dignity will then no longer be an option.
Taupitz
Jochen
J
Institut für Deutsches, Europäisches und Internationales Medizinrecht, Gesundheitsrecht und Bioethik, Universitäten Heidelberg und Mannheim. taupitz@jura.uni-mannheim.de
D019976:Cloning, Organism / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy