Defending Scott Walker on Not Exempting Abortions for Rape and Incest

Talking Points today reports that Presidential Nominee Gov. Scott Walker has said he would pass a 20-week abortion ban without an exception for rape and incest. “In this case, again, it’s an unborn life, it’s an unborn child and that’s why we feel strongly about it,” Walker said. “I’m prepared to sign it either way that they send it to us.” I have elsewhere explained why I think 20-week bans, premised on fetal pain, are misguided and constitutionally dubious.

But I am an equally opportunity, intellectual, so here I want to defend Scott Walker. As I note in my recently published paper Are All Abortions Equal? Should There Be Exceptions to the Criminalization of Abortion for Rape and Incest?” in the Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics those who are pro-life have compelling reasons not to recognize an exception for rape and incest. Indeed, it is Pro-Life views that make exceptions for these two kinds of abortions that are in need of justification. The paper also explains some fears from the Pro-Choice perspective about attacking the failure to recognize these exceptions with a vengeance, given the view of women’s sexuality and manichean madonna/whore dyad such an approach expresses. Here is the abstract:

There was a moment in the 2012 campaign, when Mitt Romney attempted to “pivot” to the center and get away from the statements of those like Todd Akin who made comments about how in cases of “legitimate rape,” the victims’ bodies “have ways to try and shut that whole thing down.” The way Romney did his pivot was to make clear that while he was against abortion, he would, of course, make an exception for women who had been raped or whose pregnancy was the result of incest. This has become something of a moderate orthodoxy among those who oppose abortion.

Abortion should be criminalized, yes, but with these exceptions carved out. Read More

Journal of Law and the Biosciences (JLB): Call for Harvard Student Submissions

The Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School collaborates with Stanford and Duke Universities to publish  the  Journal  of  Law  and  Biosciences  (Oxford University Press), an online, open-access, peer-reviewed journal. JLB includes a New Developments section, comprised  of  brief  summaries and commentary on recent legislation, regulation, and case law written by graduate students at the collaborating schools. The Petrie-­Flom Center is responsible for providing the New Developments for one issue per annual volume.

We are currently seeking Harvard graduate students to contribute papers to be published in JLB’s New Developments section in early 2016. In previous years, New Developments have been generated from scratch specifically for JLB, based on selection from submitted proposals. This year, we are taking a different approach by publishing already complete (or to-be-completed by the deadline) original student papers (such as student notes, course papers, etc.) written by graduate students from any Harvard school.  New Developments are limited to 5000 words, including footnotes and references,  and  should  be  on  a  topic  of  relevance  to  law  and  the  biosciences,  in particular a topic of relatively recent concern, controversy, or change. They should focus on  describing  the  issue  at  hand,  explaining  why  it  is  relevant  to  scholars  and practitioners, and providing analysis and questions for further consideration.

Interested students should submit their papers and CVs for consideration no later than September 7, 2015 (earlier  is  welcome). Up  to  four  papers will be selected for publication in the New Developments section of JLB. Applicants will be notified by the end of September. Selected students will receive comments on their papers by the end of October, and will also be responsible for providing comments to the other selected students. Revisions will be due by the end of November, and final submissions to JLB will be due by the end of December 2015.

Please send all application materials, and direct all questions, to Holly Fernandez Lynch, hlynch@law.harvard.edu.

Upcoming Event (6/30): Visible Solutions – How Neuroimaging Helps Law Re-envision Pain

brain_pain_slide_270_174_85Visible Solutions:
How Neuroimaging Helps Law Re-envision Pain

Tuesday, June 30, 2015
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wasserstein Hall, Milstein West A
Harvard Law School [Map]

Can brain imaging be a “pain-o-meter” that tells courts when a person is in pain? Can fMRI help us discern whether intractable chronic pain is “all in your head” or all in the brain – or will it require us to reconsider that distinction? Leading neuroscientists, legal scholars, and bioethicists will debate standards and limits on how the law can use brain science to get smarter about a subject that touches everyone.

Panelists include: Read More

‘The Week in Health Law’ Podcast

By Nicolas Terry

twihl 14x14

This week we are joined by Kristin Madison. We discuss the new Wellness Plans NPRMs and Guidances, Health Data and the 21st Century Cures Bill, and the TPP’s potential impact on healthcare

The Week in Health Law Podcast from Frank Pasquale and Nicolas Terry is a commuting-length discussion about some of the more thorny issues in Health Law & Policy.

Subscribe at iTunes, listen at Stitcher Radio and Podbean, or search for The Week in Health Law in your favorite podcast app.

Show notes and more are at TWIHL.com. If you have comments, an idea for a show or a topic to discuss you can find us on twitter @nicolasterry @FrankPasquale @WeekInHealthLaw