Ethical Issues in Embryo Ownership Cases: A Comprehensive Narrative Review

Objective: This review analyzes ethical and legal conflicts surrounding cryopreserved embryo ownership, with a focus on divergences between judicial rulings and regulatory frameworks in China and other jurisdictions. Mechanism: We conducted a systematic narrative review of court cases, legislation, and scholarly literature to examine how disputes are adjudicated and reasoned across jurisdictions. Findings in Brief: While regulations often restrict embryo disposition to licensed medical institutions, courts increasingly grant ownership-like rights to patients, particularly in posthumous and post-divorce scenarios, emphasizing genetic continuity, prior consent, and emotional solace. This trend challenges standardized assisted reproductive technology (ART) governance frameworks. Conclusions: A coherent governance framework must balance individual reproductive autonomy, offspring welfare, and public interest through clearer legislation, multi-tiered oversight mechanisms, and inclusive ethical deliberation.