Seizure of embryos. Obstacles in re reproduction of a couple violate the right to family life.
JUDGMENT
Nedescu v. Romania 16.01.2018 (no. 70035/10)
SUMMARY
Complaints of a couple that they could not recover the embryos seized by the public prosecutors and being prevented from acquiring another child. Infringement of Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life).
PROVISION
Article 8
PRINCIPAL FACTS
The applicants, Daniela Nedescu and Călin Nedescu, are Romanian nationals who were both born in 1976 and live in Bucharest. They are a married couple.
The case concerned the couple’s complaint that they had not been able to recover embryos that had been seized by the prosecuting authorities in 2009 and that they had been prevented from having another child. The couple had won court orders in their favour to retrieve the embryos, but they had not been able to fulfil them.
Relying on Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life), Mr and Mrs Nedescu complained of a disproportionate interference which had lasted more than six years.
THE DECISION OF THE COURT
Violation of Article 8
Just satisfaction: EUR 7,000 (non-pecuniary damage) and EUR 4,700 (costs and expenses) to the applicants jointly (echrcaselaw.com editing).