title: The Davis dilemma: how to prevent battles over frozen preembryos.
abstract: Cryopreservation of preembryos, or the freezing of fertilized human eggs, is a procedure increasingly used by infertile couples to improve the odds of success of advanced reproductive technologies. As a consequence, divorcing couples are finding themselves in dispute over the disposition of frozen preembryos that have not been implanted. Courts have been called on to decide to whom the frozen preembryos should be awarded, but the law is unclear whether frozen preembryos should be treated as marital property, as children, or as something else. The author analyzes various arguments concerning the appropriate legal status of frozen preembryos, and suggests a new rule to settle such disputes.
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University School of Law, USA.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Panitch
mesh_terms: D033421:Beginning of Human Life; D015925:Cryopreservation; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D004243:Divorce; D019924:Embryo Disposition / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D010067:Ownership / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018454:Spouses; D020458:Third-Party Consent; D014481:United States; D026712:Value of Life