A Debate on Human Dignity, Embryo and Embryonic Stem Cell Researches

Abstract

The claim that human embryos have human dignity has been widely discussed, with reference to international regulations, which combine bioethics, human dignity, and practices on the human genome, embryo and fetus. It is claimed that the concept of human dignity, which is used for evaluating the compliance of actions and research with ethical norms, is used to protect the human dignity of human embryos. In this article, Kuquradi's understanding of human dignity, according to which human dignity is related to the actor, not related to the victim is applied to the debates on the human dignity of human embryos. According to this approach, it is not useful to discuss whether or not the human embryo possesses human dignity in the context of discussions on the ethics of the applications and researches on human embryos. Because human embryo would be the victim of any application or research done to it, and as human dignity is not related to the victim, it is meaningless to discuss whether human embryos have human dignity. Besides, the view that a human embryo does not possess an equal legal status to human beings is widely accepted by states in their domestic regulations on embryonic stem cell research. Moreover, international regulations do not recognize the existence of the human dignity of the human embryo and do not consider to protect it. Human dignity is related to the actor, not related to the victim. This infers that, although the human embryo does not possess human dignity, we - as human beings who have dignity-have the responsibility to behave towards the embryo in accordance with human dignity. So the restrictions that international regulations have put on for the applications and researches on human embryo remain necessary.