Publication: Aspectos constitucionales de la bioética: status jurídico del preembrión
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2017-06-14
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Universidad Complutense de Madrid
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Abstract
Los avances en biomedicina y genética se dan a una velocidad vertiginosa; intentar precisar el papel del constitucionalismo ante estos constantes cambios es una labor complicada para el jurista. Pero mayor dificultad encierra el intentar definir el status jurídico-constitución del preembrión, y es esta tarea la que crea mayor tensión entre el Derecho, la Biomedicina y la Genética, puesto que muchas investigaciones utilizan células madre embrionarias que se extraen de los embriones menores de catorce días, conocidos como preembriones. Estas prácticas, amparadas bajo la libertad de investigación científica, obligan a revisar el catálogo de derechos fundamentales que contemplan las diferentes Constituciones e Instrumentos Internacionales, y plantean la necesidad de trazar nuevos derechos fundamentales o nuevas dimensiones de derechos ya existentes. Es por esto que en diversos países del mundo se han tomado decisiones legislativas con el objetivo de regular el status que guarda del preembrión, por lo que en la presente investigación se hizo un estudio de las normativas, centrándose en aquellas de los países más punteros, como Alemania, Estados Unidos y Reino Unido, y también se estudia la legislación de México no sólo por la proximidad geográfica que comparte con Estados Unidos, sino también por los lazos históricos y culturales que le atan a España, y puesto que dichas circunstancias moldean su sociedad y cultura y sobre todo han influido en su cuerpo legal. Además, es un claro ejemplo de la carencia normativa que evidencian los países latinoamericanos en la materia, ya que los países latinoamericanos, a diferencia de los europeos, carecen de una normativa sistemática sobre procreación asistida. En la mayoría de los casos se encuentran algunos principios generales aplicables a la materia en los Códigos Civiles y Penales, o incluso en las Constituciones; y desde luego se estudió la normativa de España, puesto que ha sido con mayor o menor acierto, pionera en regular los nuevos campos que abría la biomedicina. Habrá que reconocer que es la ciencia quien dirige a la sociedad, el Derecho sólo regula, en medida de lo posible, su irrefrenable e incesante progreso.
Progress in biomedicine and genetics proceed at a fast pace; therefore, the task the jurists have encountered is trying to establish the role of constitutionalism subjected to constant changes, which results in a rather complicated undertaking. Without a doubt, a major difficulty lies in the attempt to define the legal and constitutional status of the so-called pre-embryo. This assignment creates more tension between the Law, Biomedicine and Genetics, because many of the ongoing investigations use embryonic stem cells derived from embryos that are only fourteen days old, and which are also called pre-embryos. These practices, protected under the freedom of scientific research, impulse the jurists to review the existing list of fundamental rights that are included in the different Constitutions and International Treaties. They also raise the need to draw new fundamental rights, or to envisage the possibility of discussing new dimensions of already existing rights. As a result, many countries around the world have taken legislative decisions in order to regulate the pre-embryo's status. Therefore, in the present research it was essential to study a series of regulations, focusing on legislations of those of countries who hold controversial positions, such as Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom, and Mexico. The latter is relevant not only because of the geographic proximity with the United States, but also because the historical and cultural ties that bind this country with Spain. Such conditions have shaped the society and culture, but above all, they have influenced its legal body, what's more it also exemplifies the lack of regulation in Latin-American countries, unlike the Europeans, for they lack systematic policies on assisted procreation. In most cases some general principles applicable to the matter/problem in the Civil and Criminal Codes and the Constitutions can be found. And, obviously, the legislation of Spain was studied, examined and questioned, since it has been, with more or less success, a pioneer when it comes to regulating the new fields that sciences such as Biomedicine and Genetics open. In the end it should be acknowledged that it is Science who leads society, the Law is left with the mission to regulate, as much as possible, it’s irrepressible and incessant progress.
Progress in biomedicine and genetics proceed at a fast pace; therefore, the task the jurists have encountered is trying to establish the role of constitutionalism subjected to constant changes, which results in a rather complicated undertaking. Without a doubt, a major difficulty lies in the attempt to define the legal and constitutional status of the so-called pre-embryo. This assignment creates more tension between the Law, Biomedicine and Genetics, because many of the ongoing investigations use embryonic stem cells derived from embryos that are only fourteen days old, and which are also called pre-embryos. These practices, protected under the freedom of scientific research, impulse the jurists to review the existing list of fundamental rights that are included in the different Constitutions and International Treaties. They also raise the need to draw new fundamental rights, or to envisage the possibility of discussing new dimensions of already existing rights. As a result, many countries around the world have taken legislative decisions in order to regulate the pre-embryo's status. Therefore, in the present research it was essential to study a series of regulations, focusing on legislations of those of countries who hold controversial positions, such as Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom, and Mexico. The latter is relevant not only because of the geographic proximity with the United States, but also because the historical and cultural ties that bind this country with Spain. Such conditions have shaped the society and culture, but above all, they have influenced its legal body, what's more it also exemplifies the lack of regulation in Latin-American countries, unlike the Europeans, for they lack systematic policies on assisted procreation. In most cases some general principles applicable to the matter/problem in the Civil and Criminal Codes and the Constitutions can be found. And, obviously, the legislation of Spain was studied, examined and questioned, since it has been, with more or less success, a pioneer when it comes to regulating the new fields that sciences such as Biomedicine and Genetics open. In the end it should be acknowledged that it is Science who leads society, the Law is left with the mission to regulate, as much as possible, it’s irrepressible and incessant progress.
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Tesis inédita de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Derecho, Departamento de Derecho Constitucional, leída el 02-02-2016