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Reproduktionsmedizin: Fortschritt wagen – Grenzen erkennen

Reproductive medicine: venture progress – recognize limits

  • Leitthema
  • Published:
Der Gynäkologe Aims and scope

Zusammenfassung

Das 1991 in Kraft getretene Embryonenschutzgesetz (ESchG) bietet den in Deutschland in der Reproduktionsmedizin tätigen Ärzten und Biologen den gesetzlichen Rahmen, in dem sie arbeiten dürfen. Ziel des Gesetzes ist der Schutz des Präimplantationsembryos und die Festlegung der Rahmenbedingungen zur Herbeiführung einer Schwangerschaft. Die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen sollten jedoch so gestaltet werden, dass Verfahren, die in anderen Staaten zulässig sind und zu einer Verbesserung der Kinderwunschbehandlung geführt haben, in geeigneter Weise auch in Deutschland auf der Basis eines möglichst breiten gesellschaftlichen Konsenses ermöglicht werden. Dem Gesundheitsschutz der werdenden Mutter muss ebenso wie dem Schutz des Embryos in ausgewogener Weise Rechnung getragen werden.

Abstract

The German embryo protection law (1991) regulates a range of practices related to reproductive medicine, such as the number of embryos which can be created by ART per treatment cycle, and also defines under what circumstances women may access IVF treatment. The aim of the law is to protect the human preimplantation embryo from misuse, such as cloning. However, protection of the human preimplantation embryo and appropriate reproductive medical care have to be balanced, allowing German patients access to new treatment options such as elective single embryo transfer, which involves embryo selection and embryo cryopreservation. The authors call for a change in ART policy, and a modernized, comprehensive regulation of reproductive medicine in Germany.

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Notes

  1. Das ESchG bestraft die Absicht, auch wenn die Tat nicht vollendet wurde. Als „Unternehmen“ gilt bereits der Versuch der Tat (§ 11 Abs. 1 Nr. 6 StGB). Der Versuch setzt die Absicht voraus, die Tat zu vollenden. Diesen Willen hat nicht, wer von vorneherein plant, den Befruchtungsvorgang im Vorkernstadium zu unterbrechen (etwa durch Kryokonservierung). Der Vorgang des Auftauens stellt dann eine erneute „Unternehmung“ der Befruchtung einer Eizelle dar, mit den Beschränkungen des § 1 Abs. 1 Nrn. 3 und 5, da beim Auftauen ein Embryo entsteht.

  2. Nach Ziff. 5.1 der Richtlinie der BÄK zur Durchführung der assistierten Reproduktion sollen Patientinnen unter 38 Jahren im ersten und zweiten IVF- oder ICSI-Versuch nur zwei Embryonen transferiert werden. Wünscht das Paar den Transfer von drei Embryonen, ist eine ausführliche Information und Aufklärung über das erhöhte Risiko für höhergradige Mehrlingsschwangerschaften und die damit verbundenen Risiken ärztliche Pflicht.

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  1. Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Deutschland

    K. Diedrich & G. Griesinger

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  1. K. Diedrich
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  2. G. Griesinger
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Correspondence to K. Diedrich.

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Diedrich, K., Griesinger, G. Reproduktionsmedizin: Fortschritt wagen – Grenzen erkennen. Gynäkologe 41, 683–693 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00129-008-2190-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00129-008-2190-0

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