Vorlesung: Law Reproduction Ethics: Fundamental Debates (FS 2025)

The course Law, Reproduction and Ethics: Fundamental Debates will take place in March and April 2025. It will be held in English and is directed to MA students.

To foster an open and interactive learning environment, the course will be held in person.

The course will be led by Prof. Alice Margaria and Dr. iur. des. Marie-Hélène Peter-Spiess.

In light of this context, this course adopts a transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to critically examine some of the most pressing issues at the intersection of reproduction, law, and ethics. In addition to the legal framework governing reproductive medicine in Switzerland, the course will focus on topics of international relevance, such as trans procreation, egg donation, ectogestation, and gene editing.

Students taking the course will get acquainted with the legal frameworks governing reproductive medicine in Switzerland and in a comparative perspective. Moreover, they will acquire in-depth knowledge of some fundamental debates in the fields of ethics, law and reproduction, from comparative, international and interdisciplinary perspectives. They will also learn to critically investigate complex legal and ethical questions posed by societal changes and developments in reproductive medicine.

Prior knowledge in the areas of family law and/or medical law is desirable, but not essential.

Mandatory and optional reading materials will be made available. Students will receive information on course materials via email. They will include case-law, legal as well as non-legal scholarship.

Attendance is required for successful completion of the course. Grades will be based on a final written exam, with the possibility of earning extra points through active class participation.