Abstract

KIE: A lawyer in the Office of the General Counsel of the American Medical Association differentiates among various dissimilar legal theories described as wrongful life theories, and briefly considers the legislative and judicial responses of several states. Schmidt concludes that problems of wrongful life involve an evaluation not only of law, but also of medicine, morals, and public policy. As genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis, and fetal therapy are refined, related ethical questions will have to be answered, and the generallly unfavorable legal response to wrongful life actions may be reversed.