Illegal Beings: Human Clones and the Law

Kerry Lynn Macintosh, ILLEGAL BEINGS: HUMAN CLONES AND THE LAW, Cambridge University Press, 2005

Posted: 1 Sep 2005

See all articles by Kerry L. Macintosh

Kerry L. Macintosh

Santa Clara University - School of Law

Abstract

Many people think human reproductive cloning should be a crime. Some states already have outlawed cloning and Congress is working to enact a national ban. Meanwhile, scientific research continues here and abroad. Soon reproductive cloning may become possible. If that happens, cloning cannot be stopped. Infertile couples and others will choose to have babies through cloning, even if they have to break the law.

This book explains that the most common objections to cloning are false or exaggerated. The objections reflect and inspire unjustified stereotypes about human clones. Anti-cloning laws reinforce these stereotypes and stigmatize human clones as subhuman and unworthy of existence. This injures not only human clones but also the egalitarianism upon which our society is based. Applying the same reasoning used to invalidate racial segregation, this book argues that anti-cloning laws violate the equal protection guarantee and are unconstitutional.

Suggested Citation

Macintosh, Kerry L., Illegal Beings: Human Clones and the Law. Kerry Lynn Macintosh, ILLEGAL BEINGS: HUMAN CLONES AND THE LAW, Cambridge University Press, 2005, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=795864

Kerry L. Macintosh (Contact Author)

Santa Clara University - School of Law ( email )

500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
967
PlumX Metrics