Course Catalogue

Human Reproduction And The Law LAW4024

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Law
  • Credits: 40
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Runs Throughout Semesters 1 and 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course covers core topics relating to Human Reproduction and the Law including reproductive rights, assisted reproductive technologies, surrogacy, contraception, sterilisation, abortion, fetal protection, maternal/ fetal conflict, pre-natal injury, wrongful life, wrongful conception. It will also include associated issues such as embryo research and may be varied by year to include emerging topical controversies

Timetable

The seminar programme will run on Tuesdays from1100-1300 for fifteen weeks in semesters one and two.

Requirements of Entry

This course is only available to LLB students.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

- 3,000 word essay (30%) (1st semester) - 3 hour exam (70%) (2nd semester)

Main Assessment In: April/May

Course Aims

This course deals with the legal and ethical problems associated with human reproduction and the role which medicine has to play in that process. Issues considered include: the rights and wrongs of abortion and legal regulation thereof, assisted conception and access to reproductive technologies, surrogacy, the legal and ethical status of contraceptive techniques including sterilisation, and possible conflict between pregnant women and fetuses. Underlying these particular issues will be questions such as fitness to parent, whether there is or ought to be a right to reproduce, and ethical, social, economic and practical limitations on such a right. A comparative approach is a strong element of this course.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

- identify and demonstrate understanding of the current law in the UK and other jurisdictions, where relevant, as it relates to issues arising from human reproduction (and associated issues relating to human embryos and fetuses) covered by this course

- evaluate and constructively criticise the current law in this area

- propose, evaluate and constructively criticise possible reforms of the law

- understand and critically evaluate areas of controversy within the subject matter

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions