Why we should not extend the 14-day rule

The 14-day rule restricts the culturing of human embryos in vitro for the purposes of scientific research for no longer than 14 days. Since researchers recently developed the capability to exceed the 14-day limit, pressure to modify the rule has started to build. Sophia McCully argues that the limit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of medical ethics Vol. 47; no. 10; pp. 712 - 714
Main Authors Blackshaw, Bruce Philip, Rodger, Daniel
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics 01.10.2021
BMJ
BMJ Publishing Group LTD
BMJ Publishing Group
Subjects
Embryology
Embryos
embryos and fetuses
Fetuses
in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer
In vitro fertilization
Medical ethics
moral status
Research ethics
Response
United Kingdom > UK
Online AccessGet full text
ISSN0306-6800
1473-4257
1473-4257
DOI10.1136/medethics-2021-107317

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Summary:The 14-day rule restricts the culturing of human embryos in vitro for the purposes of scientific research for no longer than 14 days. Since researchers recently developed the capability to exceed the 14-day limit, pressure to modify the rule has started to build. Sophia McCully argues that the limit should be extended to 28 days, listing numerous potential benefits of doing so. We contend that McCully has not engaged with the main reasons why the Warnock Committee set such a limit, and these still remain valid. As a result, her case for an extension of the 14-day rule is not persuasive.
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ISSN:0306-6800
1473-4257
1473-4257
DOI:10.1136/medethics-2021-107317