体外胚胎的法律属性与处置权

Legal Attributes and Right of Disposal of In Vitro Embryo

随着人类辅助生殖科技的飞速发展,体外受精-胚胎移植技术给饱受不孕之苦的夫妇带来了福音。与此同时,因这项技术而产生纠纷的案件也随之增多。但是,我国现有法律并未明确体外胚胎的法律属性,从而造成法官在判决过程中缺少合理的支撑。因此,明确体外胚胎的所有权、处置权和继承权是十分必要和迫切的。目前,理论学界对体外胚胎的法律属性主要分为主体说、客体说和中介说。中介说看似避免了主体说和客体说的不足,实际上并未对体外胚胎作出清晰具体的解释。体外胚胎是具有基因唯一性、应受到特殊尊重与保护的伦理物。为了社会资源分配公平,建议我国对体外胚胎的保存期限定为婚姻存续期间且女性生育年龄内。

With the rapid development of the human assisted reproductive technology, in vitro fertilization-em- bryos transplant （IVF-ET） technology brings hopes to those who suffer from infertility. I also leads to increasing law cases in artificial reproduction. Unfortunately, legal attributes of in vitro embryo, which shed light on owner- ship, disposal and inheritance of in vitro embryo, are not clear in the present law. This insufficiency will bring difficulties during the judgment of the judge. Therefore, it is necessary and urgent to make the ownership, right of disposal and succession of in vitro embryo clear. Viewpoints of academic circles towards legal attributes of in vitro embryo mainly include subject theory, object theory and mediation theory. Among these three theories, me- diation theory appears to overcome the rest, but does not clearly describe legal attributes of in vitro embryo. In vitro embryo possesses the unique quality of genes and should be specially respected and strictly protected. To ensure fair distribution of social resources, it is suggested that the retention period of in vitro embryo should be defined as the period of marriage and female reproductive age.