ABSTRACT
We are in the midst of a revolution in biomedical technology especially in human genetics and reproduction. Rapid advances in prenatal diagnosis and therapy are joined with new reproductive-aiding technologies such as in vitro fertilization and more precise genetic tests. Combined with the burgeoning knowledge of fetal development and the causes of congenital illness, these technologies are altering our perception of the fetus. As a result, prevailing values are being challenged by the new biology, and the courts are being confronted with novel, onerous cases that require a reeval uation of established legal principles.
