This seminar will explore questions of reproductive liberty and the use of new medical technologies to engage in or avoid reproduction. The topics addressed will include the concept of procreative liberty, recent limitations on abortion, assisted reproduction, embryo and egg freezing, the use of gamete donors and surrogate mothers, prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnosis, gene editing, and other reproductive topics.
A set of xeroxed materials distributed via the UT Copy Center or Canvas will be used rather than a casebook. Additional materials may be handed out in class or posted on Canvas.
Students will be expected to write 4 short reaction papers on the reading assignments, lead class discussion for one of the substantive class meetings, and prepare a 25-30 research paper on a topic of their choosing. Students will also make a 10-15 minute oral presentation on their papers in the last few classes of the semester. Attendance is required at all seminar sessions.