Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) Human reproductive cloning is hereby prohibited. No person shall knowingly attempt, engage in, or assist in human reproductive cloning. No person shall knowingly purchase, sell, transfer or otherwise obtain human embryonic, gametic or cadaveric tissue for the purpose of human reproductive cloning.
(b) No person shall knowingly create an embryo by the method of fertilization with the sole intent of donating the embryo for research. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the creation of a pre-implantation embryo by somatic cell nuclear transfer, parthenogenesis or other asexual means for research purposes.
(c) No person shall knowingly and for valuable consideration purchase, sell, transfer or otherwise obtain human embryos, gametes or cadaveric tissue for research purposes. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person from banking or donating their gametes for personal future use, or from donating their gametes to another person or from donating their gametes for research. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit or regulate the use of in vitro fertilization for reproductive purposes.
(d) A person who is found to have knowingly violated subsection (a) shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not less than 5 years nor more than 10 years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years or by a fine of not more than $1,000,000. In addition to such penalty, and at the discretion of the court, a person who is found to have knowingly violated this section and derives a personal financial profit from such violation may be ordered to pay all or part of any such profits to the commonwealth as damages.
(e) A person who is found to have knowingly violated subsection (b) or subsection (c) shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not less than 1 year nor more than 2 years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or by a fine of not more than $100,000.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 111L, § 8 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ma/part-i-administration-of-the-government-ch-1-182/ma-gen-laws-ch-111l-sect-8/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)