Biolaw and bioethics values

Woman seeks to carry a 26-year-old frozen embryo that is genetically her brother

Authors

  • Paulo Franco Taitson Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais
  • Sarah Vieira Costa Lerman Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais
  • Luiza Mourthe Taitson Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais

Keywords:

Human Embryo, Human reproduction, Bioethics, Biolaw

Abstract

This case report involves a daughter who wishes to gestate an embryo that has been frozen for twenty-six years and is, in fact, her brother. Embryo donation from parents to a daughter can increase consanguinity within a family, which may raise the risk of recessive genetic diseases. M.J., a resident of Texas, United States, sparked a debate on social media after sharing some of her thoughts on human reproduction. "I’m an adult and was conceived through assisted reproduction. Now, I want to implant my twin siblings in me." She explains that her parents underwent in vitro fertilization so that she and her sister could be born. In Brazil, for example, this would likely not be allowed. Although there is no specific law regulating assisted reproduction in the country, clinics follow the guidelines established by the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM). According to current regulations, gametes or embryos may be donated by relatives up to the fourth degree, but only if there is no consanguinity involved as would be the case with M.J. and her parents.

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Author Biographies

Paulo Franco Taitson , Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais

Pós-doutor em Reprodução Humana pela Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Pós-doutor em Bioética/Medicina pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Professor da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC-Minas). Diretor (1º Secretário) Nacional da Sociedade Brasileira de Reprodução (SBRA).

Sarah Vieira Costa Lerman, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais

Acadêmica de Direito na Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC-Minas).

Luiza Mourthe Taitson, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais

Acadêmica de Direito na Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC-Minas).

Published

2025-11-28

Issue

Section

ARTIGOS/ARTICLES