Prenatal Surgery and the Family

Before addressing prenatal surgery and the family, it is imperative first to consider the family. With politics and values constantly in flux, it is important to investigate who or what constitutes a family. The topics, prenatal surgery and the family, are inherently confusing. As evidenced by abortion debates, many scholars have questioned the subjectivity and objectivity of the fetus. While the ontological status of the fetus lies beyond the scope of this entry, it is nevertheless a foundation on which surgery rests. How one views the moral and political value (i.e., potential rights) of a fetus and how one views the family structure will necessarily alter the way in which prenatal surgery and the family is viewed.

Prenatal surgery can be identified in a variety of ...