Abstract
The rapid advancement of gene editing technologies has created new opportunities for preventing genetic diseases, but it has also raised complex legal and ethical questions, especially regarding the legal status of the human embryo. Vietnamese civil law currently lacks a clear legal framework governing embryos, which leads to uncertainty in protecting personal rights that could be affected by genetic interventions. This article explores how gene editing technologies challenge existing legal concepts related to the embryo in Vietnamese law. The study analyzes the potential implications of genetic interventions for personal rights such as the right to life, bodily integrity, and genetic identity. Using a comparative legal approach, the article also reviews the regulatory models adopted in Germany, France, and Japan to identify different legal strategies for protecting embryos in the context of biomedical innovation. Based on this analysis, the article suggests several directions for improving Vietnamese legislation. These include establishing a legal definition of the embryo, recognizing a special legal status that ensures basic ethical protection, and enhancing bioethical oversight mechanisms for research involving gene editing technologies. The goal is to help develop a legal framework that respects human dignity while enabling responsible scientific progress.