Nonexistent persons cannot give consent. So we should treat them the same way we treat other entities that cannot consent: children, invalids, animals. Children have parents (natural or adoptive) or guardians. Invalids have next of kin or persons with power of attorney. Animals have owners.
Nonexistent persons cannot give consent. So we should treat them the same way we treat other entities that cannot consent: children, invalids, animals. Children have parents (natural or adoptive) or guardians. Invalids have next of kin or persons with power of attorney. Animals have owners.
In the case of unborn children, it seems unremarkable to have their prospective parents speak for them. Perhaps prospective parents are biased, but they pay for their errors. If the child suffers, so do the parents. Why should we take any other person's evaluation as more valid?
Nonexistent persons cannot give consent. So we should treat them the same way we treat other entities that cannot consent: children, invalids, animals. Children have parents (natural or adoptive) or guardians. Invalids have next of kin or persons with power of attorney. Animals have owners.
In the case of unborn children, it seems unremarkable to have their prospective parents speak for them. Perhaps prospective parents are biased, but they pay for their errors. If the child suffers, so do the parents. Why should we take any other person's evaluation as more valid?