The Puzzle of IVF

Davis, Dena S.

doi:10.2139/ssrn.887784

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The Puzzle of IVF

Dena S. Davis

Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University

March 2006

Cleveland-Marshall Legal Studies Paper No. 06-125

Abstract:
This essay seeks to address a puzzling element of the current political and legal struggles over abortion in the United States: if, as pro-life activists insist, embryos are morally equivalent to born, living persons, then why do these activists not oppose in vitro fertilization (IVF) as aggressively as they oppose abortion? IVF accounts for a significant number of destroyed embryos. Constitutionally, IVF appears to be a much more vulnerable target than abortion. And yet, legislative and political attempts to attack and restrict IVF are few, while attempts to erode women's capability to terminate pregnancies are a constant feature of our political and legal landscape.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 25

Keywords: abortion, in vitro fertilization

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Date posted: March 4, 2006

Suggested Citation

Davis, Dena S., The Puzzle of IVF (March 2006). Cleveland-Marshall Legal Studies Paper No. 06-125. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=887784 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.887784

Contact Information

Dena S. Davis (Contact Author)

Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University ( email )

2121 Euclid Avenue, LB 138
Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
United States