Editing human reproduction? Legal and ethical aspects of genome editing

Judit Sándor*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Book/Report typesChapterpeer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

Genome editing has generated an unprecedented interest in both scientific circles and the community of lawyers and bioethicists. Once this technology becomes safe and can be used for clinical purposes, it might shake the existing ethical and legal consensus. Genome editing is forcing us to rethink the dichotomies between natural and artificial or therapy and enhancement, and it is going to cast in a new light the distinction between the stances of protecting life and giving priority to personal autonomy in reproductive rights. Moreover, by applying genome editing in practice, the division between germ line and somatic line will become blurred, which will require significant adjustments in regulation. As preimplantation genetic tests become increasingly widespread, embryo selection at in vitro fertilization clinics raises serious ethical concerns. Genome editing is still a new technology, but its potential implications suggest that once it can be successfully applied in medicine, we will have to reexamine a number of basic ethical principles and legal arguments that govern bioethics and biomedical law. This chapter attempts to look at these potential changes and analyze their implications.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHuman Embryos and Preimplantation Genetic Technologies
Subtitle of host publicationEthical, Social, and Public Policy Aspects
PublisherElsevier
Pages185-197
Number of pages13
ISBN (Electronic)9780128164686
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2019

Keywords

  • Bioethics
  • CRISPR-Cas9
  • Genome editing
  • Nuffield report
  • Oviedo convention

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