Präimplantationsdiagnostik in Deutschland nach dem Urteil des Bundesgerichtshofes 2010

Abstract

For couples with severe genetically determined diseases preimplantation genetic diagnosis offers the option to diagnose affected embryos before pregnancy has been established and thus to exclude such embryos from transfer to the womb. In this way a possibly stressful termination of pregnancy can be avoided. This article gives a review of the state of affairs regarding international preimplantation genetic diagnosis usage with commonly occurring indication as well as pregnancy and birth rates. It can be seen that the indication for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is not liberally applied. Furthermore, the legal situation in Germany will be explained. After confrontational opinions with respect to the permissibility of PID collided over many years and physicians did not use PGD because they were afraid of prosecution, the judgment of the Federal High Court has now provided security for physicians and affected couples. PID has become possible in Germany! Preimplantation genetic aneuploidy screening (PGS) for diagnosis of chromosome abnormalities cannot be used for improvement of the pregnancy rate and reduction of the abortion rate in older patients. Therefore, PGS on embryos or oocytes (polar body analysis) should not be offered outside clinical studies. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.