1. World problems
  2. Unlimited practice of human embryo storage

Unlimited practice of human embryo storage

  • Orphaned embryos

Nature

There are presently about 10,000 human embryos in frozen storage in embryo banks around the world, with the number rapidly increasing. There is no time limit to this storage, and embryos are often left orphaned when parents die or change their minds about the procedure. There are no common guidelines and very little legislation of this matter.

The death of the parents of live in vitro embryos or of embryos implanted in another's uterus, produced through artificial insemination or other means, raises the question of whether the embryos have legal status and whether they can be subject to donation, disposal, or custody.

Incidence

Two orphaned embryos remained frozen and in legal custody pending a decision by the Australian Parliament as to their status. Both parents had died in a plane crash, leaving no instructions in their wills as to what to do with the embryos. Also in question was the inheritance of the $1 million fortune they left.

Broader

Aggravates

Aggravated by

Strategy

Value

Unlimited [D]
Yet to rate
Unlimited [C]
Yet to rate
Rights
Yet to rate
Inhumanity
Yet to rate

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #1: No PovertySustainable Development Goal #10: Reduced Inequality

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(E) Emanations of other problems
Subject
  • Biosciences » Growth
  • Mankind » Human
  • Society » Disadvantaged
  • Transportation, telecommunications » Storage
  • Content quality
    Presentable
     Presentable
    Language
    English
    Last update
    Oct 4, 2020