Ethics and Law in ART

We explore what is possible, acceptable, and ethical in assisted reproduction.

What is permissible in ART? We investigate the ethical and legal boundaries of research and practice in assisted reproduction.

Research on embryonic stem cells and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) raises a wide range of legal and ethical questions. These issues touch on human dignity, the right to life, the responsibilities of scientists and physicians, and the rights of unborn embryos. Perspectives on these topics vary significantly across religious, cultural, legal, and political contexts.

This project focuses on both the legal and ethical dimensions of embryonic stem cell research, as well as on selected challenges associated with ART. The legal analysis will include a comparative review of legislation in selected countries and an examination of relevant international instruments—such as the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (Oviedo Convention)—which prohibit research that leads to the destruction of human embryos.

A substantial part of the research will be dedicated to exploring the legal and ethical status of the human embryo, particularly in relation to research involving embryonic stem cells and the development of synthetic embryos. The project will address issues such as the legal status and patentability of synthetic embryos, as well as the technologies used in their creation.

In the context of ART, new ethical and legal challenges continue to emerge—such as embryo transfer involving genetic disorders, assisted reproduction in patients with comorbidities, or genetic testing of embryos for adult-onset diseases. These topics will also be explored in detail.

The research will address both general and specific questions that lie at the intersection of ethics and law, with a particular focus on ART as a phenomenon enabled by modern science and technology. The main goal of the project is to offer a general normative framework for addressing the outlined issues, as well as practical guidance for healthcare professionals and institutions providing assisted reproductive services.

Website of the Research Unit for Medical Law and Bioethics:

https://www.ilaw.cas.cz/en/research-and-projects/research-unit-for-medical-law/news.html