Interdisciplinary lecture "Law, Reproduction and Ethics: Fundamental Debates"
From 12.03.2026 to 27.03.2026
Advancements in reproductive medicine have given rise to significant legal and ethical dilemmas. Legal frameworks governing this area are heterogenous and often lag behind the rapid pace of scientific progress and societal changes. This has led to legal gaps – often filled in by individual autonomy and practices – or to the imposition of ineffective legal prohibitions – often circumvented by crossing national borders in pursuit of (more) permissive legal regulations. These dynamics highlight the urgent need for deeper reflection on the ethical dimensions of reproductive technologies and practices.
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. It begins with a lecture by a reproductive biologist and a visit to a research laboratory working in the field. The curriculum will then examine the legal frameworks governing reproductive medicine in Switzerland and abroad, alongside internationally relevant topics such as trans procreation, ectogestation, and gene editing.
This transdisciplinary approach is further reinforced by welcoming both law and biology students into the course, and by fostering open, interactive dialogue between lecturers and students.