earticle

영어

These days biotechnology industry is being rapidly developed, and lots of related applications on biotechnology invention, including human embryonic stem cells, are submitted at patent offices. In particular, scientific studies on human embryonic stem cells give a hopeful message to the mankind against incurable diseases; on the other hand, ethical problems regarding human dignity are still involved. With respect to ethical problems, in particular as to 'informed consent', there are worldwide declarations such as Nurnberg Code and Helsinki Declaration, which stress that voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. Among european countries UK has positive attitudes for patentability of human embryonic stem cells. UK Patent Office maintains that an application as to pluripotent cells should be allowed to be patentable, while both Germany and France have circumspect standpoints regarding patentability of human embryonic stem cell. This study provides not only scientific knowledge on embryonic stem cells, but also comparative analyses of three major countries in Europe, in which in particular, French Bioethics Law as of 2004, German Embryo Protection Law in 1990 and UK Patent Office's views on embryonic stem cell are introduced.