The term "gene therapy" denotes therapeutic methods, which insert alien genes into human somatic cells or tissue. Through the development of gene therapy, new medical procedures become available for the treatment of severe diseases. However, gene therapy is still an experimental method the application of which may have serious side effects. Relevant ethical, legal and scientific debates show no consensus yet, which criteria are to be considered for the evaluation of gene therapy. The present report pictures the medical-scientific, legal and ethical basics on the subject.

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