Part 2: Blog Response post

Peruse some of the Blog entries made by your fellow classmates. Choose at least one that you found useful and comment on how the website helped you with your understanding. The comment should be 100 words minimum.

( I chose this blog) you will need to respond to this blog (100 words minimum)

Ectogenesis: The case for Artificial Wombs

Ectogenesis, is the act of creating an artificial womb for fetal development. Ectogenesis can be accomplished two ways; either conception and development occur totally independent of a human womb or a fetus will be transferred from a mother’s womb to the artificial womb. (Schultz, 2010). In this sense Ectogenesis can be helpful for women who can’t carry a pregnancy to full term and it can help save premature babies lives by allowing them to develop longer within a controlled environment. (Schultz, 2010). On the other hand, juxtaposers may say that Artificial wombs will turn children into more of a material item than something special that is created through the arduous process within a mother’s womb.

The document that I have cited is written by Jessica Schultz who, throughout the essay, opened my eyes to the legal issues that pertain to bioethics as well as the social ethics. I think that when ethics are involved, we forget that there are literal legal codes set in place to help sort out the personal feelings behind ethics; however, as technology advances Legal codes become outdated and need to be updated to encompass new controversies. For example, Schultz describes the challenge of an “Ex Vivo pregnancy” where a fetus will be developed and conceived in an artificial womb but then “at least one parent decides that he or she wants to terminate the pregnancy.”. (Schultz, 2020). Technically in this situation neither parent has greater legal custody over the fetus, therefore, Davis v. Davis is nulenvoid as “none of the concerns about a woman’s bodily integrity that have previously precluded men from controlling abortion decisions is applicable here.”. (Schultz, 2010). Schultz goes on to present other similar cases, whether monetary, custodial, or simple ethics over life- questioning how to adjust the legal system to account for the development of this literal life changing technology. So do you think the benefits outweigh the struggle of ethics?

References:

Jessica H. Schultz, Development of Ectogenesis: How Will Artificial Wombs Affect the Legal Status of a Fetus or Embryo?, 84 Chi.-Kent L. Rev. 877 (2010).