National Human Embryo and Embryoid Research Policies: A Survey of 22 Top Research-Intensive Countries

Abstract

Research using human embryos and embryoids has expanded in recent years due to technological advances. Surveying laws and guidelines among the top research and development (R&D) investing nations highlights existing barriers to expanding this area of research. Of the 22 nations surveyed, we found 12 countries with a 14-day limit, one with a seven-day limit, five with prohibitions and four without national laws or guidelines that limit or prohibit human embryo research. Sixteen national laws or guidelines define an embryo or related entities, with five nations limiting human embryoid research. Other laws are ambiguous in relation to embryoid research, leave unanswered questions regarding what research is permitted or restricted and need additional clarity for researchers.

The time has come to extend the 14-day limit

“…Up until now, the 14-day rule has worked and been an effective tool, influencing many jurisdictions. 1 For reasons which this paper will set out to illustrate, we can now be confident it is safe to make a policy change and extend the 14-day rule without fear of any moral and regulatory slippery slope, a concern which need not apply to the 14-day rule (as argued by Sarah Chan 2i ). Many studies suggest that important events taking place during early embryogenesis, prior to 14 days, are likely to have an impact on later development.…”

“…One could loosely define reproductive freedom as individuals having choice and autonomy on issues related to reproduction. As one of the seminal voices on the subject of reproductive freedom, and a notable player in the bioethics field, 31 John Robertson's work 1 is a legitimate basis to help frame this paper's understanding of reproductive freedom. If one is to examine Robertson's essay on procreative liberty, 32 it is clear to see that there are more important and potentially harmful issues ii that may infringe on procreative liberty and reproductive freedom than that of the research use of surplus IVF embryos that were, most likely, never to be implanted in utero; or indeed embryos specifically created for research which were never intended for implantation.…”

Opportunities and challenges with stem cell-based embryo models

“…In particular, there are potential legal, regulatory, and ethical concerns posed by the integrated stem cell-based embryo models, with regard to the possibility that they could be endowed with the potential to form a whole organism ( Pereira Daoud et al., 2020 ). While these concerns may not apply to those models that are restricted to the formation of specific parts of the embryo, the developmental attributes of the integrated models may place them under the regulatory framework for human embryo research in some jurisdictions ( Matthews and Moralí, 2020 ).…”

Rethinking Human Embryo Research Policies

“…However, the United States is not unique; other countries, including China and India, also do not have national authorities overseeing human embryo research. 20 Appropriate oversight could be established by law, as is the case in the United Kingdom, or through professional standards. In the United Kingdom, the HFEA specifies how to obtain licenses, lists all research under licensure, and holds public consultations when considering any changes in its mandate.…”