It seems that bio-technology or new medical options are radically reconfiguring our ideas about when "life" begins or ends - the expansions of the concept of life and death in formerly unknown territories, practices and institutions challenges the conventional legal limititations applied to the creation of life & suspension of death. This week we focus on "uncanny" or "disposted" embryos, end-of-life decisions and post-mortem sperm harvesting to examine how these cases redefine the life & law nexus.

Please read The Uncanny Embryos by Karpin and Embryo Disposition and the New Death Scene by Ellison/ Karpin.

Please answer the following questions:

How does law grapple with these new 'options' of life and death? Does technological ability override legality here? DOes what is forbidden - for example by law - indeed trigger our imagination to do exactly what should not be done (clone humans!). Put differently: is there a more complex"circularity" or "co-production" between law & life/ death happening?Whatdo you think?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

1 Laws Grappling with New Options of Life and Death The law has traditionally sought to provide clear boundaries and definitions around the beginning ... View the full answer