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Contested change: how Germany came to allow PGD
1Institute of Cultural History and Theory, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany.
Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online
|May 19, 2018
Summary
German laws on embryo protection have shifted, allowing preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in specific cases. This legal change reflects a broader sociocultural evolution in Germany concerning embryo identity and parental rights.
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- German Law
- Sociology of Reproduction
Background:
- German laws historically imposed strict protections on human embryos from conception.
- These regulations previously hindered embryo manipulation techniques like preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and impacted stem cell research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the sociocultural shifts underlying Germany's 2011 legal amendment allowing preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).
- To demonstrate that the reasoning behind the legal change, not just the decision itself, signifies a significant sociocultural evolution.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the arguments and discourse preceding the 2011 German parliamentary vote on PGD.
- Examination of redefined concepts of embryo identity, parenting, and pregnancy in the context of the legal amendment.
Main Results:
- The amendment reflects a pragmatic redefinition of embryo identity.
- Notions of parenting and pregnancy have evolved, shifting focus from birth to conception and 'genetic couplehood'.
- The discourse highlighted a negotiation between the rights of the embryo and prospective parents, termed 'in-vitro pregnancy'.
Conclusions:
- The partial acceptance of PGD in Germany signifies a profound sociocultural change.
- This shift is characterized by evolving ethical considerations and redefined familial concepts in reproductive technologies.
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