Identity and status of the human embryo

The Steering Committee of the Center for Bioethics of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, composed of twenty specialists, university professors, of biome- dical, philosophical and juridical disciplines, has deepened during numerous meetings, the theme of the identity and status of the human embryo, following the publication of the Instruction “Donum Vitae” of 22.2.1987 and in view of the numerous studies and debates being carried out by scholars and specialists in every country. At the meeting of14.4.1989, the text that we are publishing on behalf of and by man- given by the Committee itself was approved. This text, made public on22.6.1989, necessarily syn- tetic will be taken up with more analytical studies in our own journal or in subsequent publications.