Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction : a fetus with no rights or an unborn child with legal rights? -- Point : an embryo or fetus does not deserve legal recognition as a person -- Counterpoint : an unborn child is a person who deserves equal protection under the law -- Point : fetal homicide laws threaten women's rights -- Counterpoint : laws must protect every unborn child from violence -- Point : laws that regulate the conduct of pregnant women invade their privacy -- Counterpoint : in some cases, the law must protect unborn children from their mothers' behavior -- Conclusion : the rise of fetal rights and its impact on bioethics and the abortion debate.