ABSTRACT
Fecundity is the ability to reproduce. Though pregnancy, delivery, abortion, and potency are related to obstetrics, in most parts of the Indian subcontinent, these are looked after by general medical practitioners due to a lack of sufficient specialists. Such services are associated with some legal and medicolegal ramifications, like the MTP Acts, PC-PNDT Act, rights of a pregnant lady and unborn child, potency issues, etc. This chapter aims to impart a medicolegal orientation and discuss the role of the medical board in dealing with male impotence, sterility, sex-linked violence, marital disputes, illegitimacy, etc. and the role of a doctor in issuing medicolegal reports. This chapter highlights the role of doctors in surrogacy, assisted reproductive techniques (sex selection, trait selection, embryo transfer, gamete donors, storage and posthumous use of gametes and embryos, etc.), rights of an unborn child, etc. This chapter also compares the guidelines and legislation of assisted reproduction surrogacy in various countries.
