title: Public, expert and patients' opinions on preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in Germany.
abstract: The regulation of reproductive medicine technologies differs significantly among Western industrialized countries. In Germany, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is prohibited due to the Embryo Protection Act, which came into force in 1991. In the last 5 years, this prohibition has been vigorously debated. In the present studies, which are part of the German research programme on ethical implications of the Human Genome Project, representative surveys were undertaken to assess the attitudes on PGD in the general population (n = 1017), five relevant expert groups (n = 879), high genetic risk couples (n = 324) and couples undergoing IVF (n = 108). All groups surveyed clearly favoured allowing PGD in Germany. Compared with the results of recently conducted population surveys in the UK and the USA, where PGD is already carried out, public approval of PGD does not differ significantly. The influence of restrictive biopolitics on the apparently liberal public opinion towards new reproductive technology seems to be marginal according to the present data, which should carefully be considered in the ongoing legislation process on human reproduction.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Conflict Studies, University of Marburg and Bioethics-Clinical Ethics, University Hospital, Marburg, Germany. krones@mailer.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krones
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schlüter
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manolopoulos
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: Hans-Rudolf
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Tinneberg
authors.forename: Manuela C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindner
authors.forename: Georg F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Ertan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mayatepek
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huels
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neuwohner
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Ansari
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wissner
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000941:ethics; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010361:Patients; D011247:Pregnancy; D019836:Preimplantation Diagnosis / Q000941:ethics*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000941:ethics; D011639:Public Opinion