Journal of Law and Health: Call for Papers

Journal of Law and Health’s Annual Symposium: The Legal and Ethical Implications of Posthumous Reproduction:

The symposium is tentatively scheduled for March 2013.

In Astrue v. Capato, the Supreme Court held that children conceived through in vitro fertilization after the death of a parent were not automatically entitled to survivor benefits under the Social Security law. The Court stated that the children’s eligibility to receive the benefits depended upon their ability to inheritance under the state’s intestacy system.

Areas of interest for this special journal issue include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• What steps are necessary to protect the financial interests of posthumously conceived children?
• What regulations are needed to protect the reproductive rights of the dead gamete provider?
• What steps are necessary to address the legal, moral and ethical consequences of posthumous reproduction?
• What impact, if any, will the United States Supreme Court decision in Astrue v. Capato have on posthumous reproduction? 
• Do the dead have a fundamental right to procreate?
• Should posthumously conceived children be treated like heirs under the intestacy system?
• Whether health insurance should cover the expense of posthumous reproduction?

Those interested in submitting an article must submit a 600-word abstract describing selected topic and submit curriculum vitae by October 1, 2012. Email abstract and CV to Journal of Law and Health at [email protected]. Include “Submission: Annual Symposium” in the subject line.