There are few legal topics in the United States that are as heavily debated as those around fetal personhood. At its simplest, the concept asks whether an embryo or fetus should be recognized by law as a person, sometimes from the moment of fertilization.
But that seemingly simple question can reshape far more than abortion law. Depending on how personhood is defined, it can influence IVF, the care that people receive when they experience a miscarriage, and even medical decisions during pregnancy.
So what, exactly, is fetal personhood? And how has America approached this sensitive subject? Click on to find out.