German court allows screening for genetic defects in IVF embryos

German court allows gene diagnose of IVF embryos

BERLIN — A German high court has said in a landmark ruling that embryos created during in vitro fertilization can be screened for genetic defects before being implanted in the womb.

Germany’s Federal Supreme Court in Leipzig ruled Tuesday in support of a Berlin gynecologist who had carried out screening on embryos for three different couples and implanted only those that were healthy. The embryos with genetic defects were left to die off.

The high court’s ruling upheld a decision by a Berlin state court that the doctor’s action did not violate German laws for the protection of embryos.