Protection of the embryo and modern medical advancements - Ethical and theological problems of reproductive medicine and genetics in Germany and Austria

For the political, the theological and church discussion about reproductive medicine and genetics in Germany it might be helpful to take a look on the situation in other European countries. The above article informs about the discussion in Austria, which has a law of reproductive medicine since 1992. The focus of analysis lies on the legal and moral status of the embryo. It is questionable to argue that an embryo is a person. concerning the protection of the embryo there are general philosophical reasons but also reasons of theological anthropology which lead to a position of tutiorism. In general a strict protection of the embryo must be granted, but under certain circumstances there are valid reasons for a balance of ethical goods. Detailed questions which are discussed are new indications for in-vitro-fertilization and the ethical issues of preimplantation diagnosis, of reasearch on embryonic stem cells and of therapeutic cloning.