The right to life. Legal status of the human embryo

Abstract

Introduction. This paper aims to review the controversial issues in the field of human rights: the status of the human embryo. Since the moment the creation of human embryos in laboratory condition became available, ethical questions continued to arise and emphasize it’s irascible status. During pregnancy the embryo is part of another human being’s body lacking a legal status distinct from that of his mother’s. Defining the right to life and its prime beneficiaries is an important step in gaining a unitary position on a special status of the human embryo. This special legal status derives from the embryo’s recognized potential to become a human being. Aim of the study. Evaluation of the legal, medical, ethical and philosophical approaches of defining life and the right to life. Materials and methods. This study is a review of the literature, based on the synthesis of articles published in the period 1977-2021, 31 scientific sources were researched. This article includes publications identified through Google Search Engines, PubMed Databases, etc. The information has been systematized, highlighting the most important aspects of the detection and use of stem cells derived from menstrual blood (MenSC). Results. The new reproductive technologies allows interference in the whole process of human creation, from conception to the establishment of characters such as the choice of sex which, in a world ruled by good faith would only bring benefits, but in reality can be used as a discriminatory tool. Despite the undeniable importance of this right, none of the international documents that value the right to life have come to define it. Moreover, there is no unanimous definition of the term "person" or "human being", the direct beneficiaries of the right to life. Conclusions. Human embryos, through their potential to become human beings, are a powerful symbol of human life, but it is not possible to grant it an equivalent status to individuals, or any direct collision with the interests of already born human beings would deprive it of any legal protection. Key words: the right to life, reproductive rights, embryo.