Theory and practice of intellectual property
№ 4 / 2024
ISSN (Print) 2308-0361
ISSN (Online) 2519-2744
PDF (Ukrainian)DOI: https://doi.org/10.33731/42024.317235
Submitted 2024-10-03
Accepted 2024-11-06
Published 2024-12-10
The legal regime of a human embryo created in vitro
Iryna Iakovets
Doctor of Legal Sciences/Dr. Habil. (Law), Senior Researcher, Head of the Center for Legal Support of Science and Technology Development of the Intellectual Property Scientific Research Institute of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine
Ukraine
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1022-3115
Abstract
The article is dedicated to the study of the legal regime of a human embryo created in vitro, considering national and international legal approaches, as well as ethical and bioethical aspects. The aim of the work is to develop a comprehensive approach to regulating the legal status of embryos in Ukrainian law, which meets the modern challenges of biomedical technologies and international standards. The subject of the study is the legal norms concerning the use, storage, and destruction of embryos created in vitro, as well as the ethical limitations influencing their legal status.
A comparative legal method was applied in the study, allowing the analysis of the approaches of different legal systems (including European continental, Anglo-Saxon, and international) to the definition of the legal status of an embryo. The methodology also includes the analysis of bioethical norms related to law enforcement in the field of reproductive technologies. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the formation of new proposals for improving Ukraine’s national legislation and ensuring a balance between legal and ethical requirements. The relevance of the topic is due to the rapid development of biomedical technologies and the increasing need for their proper legal regulation.
The main results of the study are the formulation of recommendations for improving national legislation in the field of legal regulation of embryos created in vitro. In particular, it is proposed to define clear time limits for embryo storage, the conditions for their use in scientific research, and the establishment of a balance between patients’ rights and ethical restrictions. Additionally, recommendations for protecting the rights of participants in the reproductive technology process, including medical and research institutions, were developed.
The practical significance of the work lies in the possibility of using the results to improve law enforcement in the field of reproductive technologies and to protect the rights of participants in the reproductive process. The proposed recommendations can be implemented in national legislation to increase its effectiveness and ensure compliance with modern international standards.
Keywords: in vitro embryo, embryo legal status, reproductive technologies, scientific research
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