Czech Yearbook Vol. 4 2013

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LUDOVICA POLI CYIL 4 ȍ2013Ȏ
Additionally, the judgment offers a number of innovative insights on different
controversial issues, surrounding the application of the pre-implantation genetic
diagnosis.
III. The Comparison Between PID and Abortion:
First Indicia of the ECtHR’s Favour for this Screening Technique
The perspective adopted led the Court to a comparative analysis of the prohibition
of PID and the rules on therapeutic abortion, with special reference to their impact
on both a potential mother and her “enfant à naître”.
According to theCourt, an abortionwouldproducemore detrimental consequences
for a mother who is an immune carrier of a hereditary disease than the selection of
a healthy embryo through PID. In fact, she would be forced to live in a greater state
of anguish, having
comme seule perspective de maternité celle liée à la possibilité que l’enfant soit
affecté par la maladie litigieuse [ou], d’autre part, la souffrance dérivant du
choix de procéder douloureux, le cas échéant, à un avortement thérapeutique.13
The same appraisal is formulated by the Court with regard to the foetus, “dont le
développement est évidemment bien plus avancé que celui d’un embryon”. 14
This standpoint is not of minor relevance but rather represents the first
indication of the general approach of the ECtHR regarding the application of PID
techniques that are aimed at avoiding the transmission of serious genetic disorders.
While confirming the States’ wide margin of appreciation, given the moral and
ethical choices implied, the Court did not renounce its roles in assessing the concrete
impact of abortion and healthy selection following PID from an objective human
rights perspective. The ECtHR’s conclusion was: PID has a less intrusive effect than
abortion on fundamental human rights, even with regard to the “enfant à naître”.
This is even more evident if one considers that the ECtHR’s reasoning admits
a possible distinction between the embryo and the foetus. In particular, it recognized
the existence of a “ gradation dans le processus de procreation”,15 which could be
used to distinguish the embryo before implantation, from the foetus. According
to the judges, the most advanced stage of development of the foetus would render
an abortion much more invasive than the failure to implant an embryo generated in
vitro. While being no more than an obiter dictum, this remark is to be considered of
major importance. It is the first time the Court has given its perspective on the status
of early stages of the human existence.
13 Costa and Pavan v. Italy (n 4), para. 66.
14 ibid., para. 62.
15 Nicolas Hervieu, ‘Incertitudes européennes sur ‘le droit à un enfant sain’ via un diagnostic
génétique préimplantatoire’ (2012), La Revue des Droits de l’Homme – Lettre «Actualités Droits-
Libertés» du CREDOF < -
genetique-preimplantatoire/> accessed 12 March 2013.