SMNR: Reproductive Rights

Course Information

Registration Information

Meeting Times

Day Time Location
MON 3:45 - 5:35 pm TNH 3.115

Evaluation Method

Type Date Time Location
Paper

Description

The Reproductive Rights Seminar will deal with ethical, legal, and policy issues arising out of the technological ability to control human reproduction and to choose the genetic makeup of offspring. We begin with a survey of the latest battles in the abortion wars, and then address conscientious objection to participating in or facilitating abortion or postcoital birth control and international human rights perspectives on reproductive choice. Three or four meetings will address assisted reproduction and the use of sperm and egg donors and surrogates. This part of the seminar will address issues in in vitro fertilization, contracts for use of gametes and gestation, ownership of frozen eggs and embryos and rearing rights and duties in resulting offspring. It will also deal with genetic screening and selection of fetuses and embryos through prenatal and preimplantation technologies. We will finish the seminar with sessions on prenatal duties of pregnant women to prospective offspring and the use of embryos to obtain stem cells for research and therapy. Students will be required to write a first and revised draft of a substantial paper (30 pages) on a topic of their choosing, and make a 10-15 minute class presentation of their paper topic. In addition, biweekly short reports on the reading will also be required. Student will also be required to attend the Bioethics Panel of a Law and Science Symposium that will be held on January 30, 2015 at the law school.

Textbooks ( * denotes required )

No materials required

Instructors

Headshot of Robertson, John A. Robertson, John A.
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