¹ See, e.g., Dieter Birnbacher (ed.), Bioethik als Tabu? Toleranz und ihre Grenzen (2000).Google Scholar

² Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Grundgesetz, GG) = Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany as promulgated on 23 May 1949, Federal Law Gazette 1949, p. 1, as amended up to and including 26.7.2002, Federal Law Gazette I 2002, p. 2863.Google Scholar

³ Gesetz zum Schutz von Embryonen (Embryonenschutzgesetz – ESchG) as promulgated on 13 December 1990, Federal Law Gazette I, p. 2746.Google Scholar

⁴ Article 119 Bundesverfassung der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft as promulgated on 18 April 1999 as amended up to and including 15 July 2003, available at: http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/1/101.de.pdf. See especially Art. 119 sec. 2 lit. a and c.Google Scholar

⁵ A totipotent cell is a cell that has the potential to develop into an embryo. It contains the same genetic material as the embryo, therefore the splitting of a totipotent cell from the embryo means cloning the embryo.Google Scholar

⁶ It is possible that Article 119 sec. 2 lit. c could allow for the use of PGD, as this clause explicitly provides for the use of IVF where the danger of transmitting a serious disease cannot be avoided in any other way.Google Scholar

⁷ Article 5 sec. 3 Bundesgesetz über die medizinisch unterstützte Fortpflanzung (Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz, FmedG) as promulgated on 18 December 1998, available on the internet: http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/as/2000/3055.pdf Google Scholar

⁸ Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz as promulgated on 14 May 1992, Federal Law Gazette 275/1992. See especially § 9 sec. 1 and § 2 sec. 2.Google Scholar

⁹ Harris, John, The Value of Life, London/New York 1985, p. 19, cited after Böckenförde-Wunderlich, p. 56.Google Scholar

¹⁰ Committee of Inquiry into Human Fertilization and Embryology (Warnock Commission) named after the chair woman Mary Warnock.Google Scholar

¹¹ Available at: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpga_19900037_en_1.htm.Google Scholar

¹² Article 3 sec. 1 and 3 Human Fertilization and Embryology Act 1990 (c. 37).Google Scholar

¹³ Schedule 2 Sec. 3 (2) (e) Human Fertilization and Embryology Act: “A licence under this paragraph cannot authorize any activity unless it appears to the Authority to be necessary or desirable for the purpose of […] (e) developing methods for detecting the presence of gene or chromosome abnormalities in embryos before implantation.”Google Scholar

¹⁴ Schedule 2, section 1, subsection 1 (d) Human Fertilization and Embryology Act 1990 (c. 37).Google Scholar

¹⁵ Deech, Ruth, Chairman of the HFEA, cited after Böckenförde-Wunderlich, p. 77.Google Scholar

¹⁶ Admittedly, Böckenförde-Wunderlich is more skeptical with regard to this point.Google Scholar

¹⁷ BVerfGE 33,125.Google Scholar

¹⁸ Article 74 sec. 1 no. 26 Grundgesetz.Google Scholar

¹⁹ This is prohibited by § 4 sec. 1 no. 2 Embryonenschutzgesetz.Google Scholar

²⁰ See Böckenförde-Wunderlich, p. 139, ann. 132.Google Scholar

²¹ So-called „Dürig-Formel“ named after Günter Dürig, Der Grundsatz von der Menschenwürde, AöR 81 (1956), p. 117, 127.Google Scholar

²² BVerfGE 1, 97, 104.Google Scholar

²³ The actual wording is: „Die Würde des Menschen ist unantastbar“ The literal translation would be: „The dignity of the human being is inviolable“Google Scholar

²⁴ Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) = Criminal Code as promulgated on 13 November 1998, Federal Law Gazette I, p. 3322 as amended up to and including 22 August 2002, Federal Gazette I, p. 3390.Google Scholar

²⁵ BVerfGE 39, 1; 88, 203.Google Scholar

²⁶ BVerfGE 88, 203, 278.Google Scholar