Reproductive medicine--a field of contradictory legislation in Germany

A brief survey is given on the German legislation concerning reproductive medicine which is contradictory both in juridical and ethical terms. Being under strong ideologic and/or populistic pressure, it favours negative family planning measures such as all kinds of birth control including induced abortion, and handicaps, on the other hand, the more sophisticated procedures of assisted fertilization to overcome infertility. Thus, legal restrictions in this country halt the scientific progress and set back the clinical standard in comparison to our neighbouring countries, all of which are more liberal in their respective legislation.