The paper addresses the issues of admissibility of human embryo research and the legal protection to be recognized, in light of the growing importance that scientific research has been gaining in the clinical and biomedical fields of embryonic stem cells for therapeutic purposes. As for human embryo experimentation, particularly on cryopreserved supernumerary embryos, European legislation varies, since the European Court has granted member States a wide margin of appreciation. Some countries, including Italy, have strict legislation protecting embryos from the fertilisation stage, whereas others have taken permissive approaches, allowing experimentation until 14 days after fertilisation. Science, however, has shown that the 14-day limit can be moved. The author finds it necessary to achieve broad international consensus and shared regulations. Lawmakers, however, need to balance respect for the principle of life, represented by the embryo, against scientific needs, in order to devise sound regulations safeguarding both apparently conflicting fundamental values.

鉴于科学研究在用​​于治疗目的的胚胎干细胞的临床和生物医学领域越来越重要，该论文解决了人类胚胎研究的可受理性和需要承认的法律保护问题。至于人类胚胎实验，特别是冷冻保存的多余胚胎，欧洲立法各不相同，因为欧洲法院给予成员国很大的赞赏空间。包括意大利在内的一些国家制定了严格的立法，保护受精阶段的胚胎，而其他国家则采取宽松的方法，允许在受精后 14 天内进行实验。然而，科学表明，14 天的限制是可以改变的。作者认为有必要达成广泛的国际共识和共享规则。