Legal fetal personhood gives embryos and fetuses the same rights as born individuals, undermining pregnant people's autonomy and health. Heipt and Littell explain how proponents have used “fetal personhood creep” to incrementally advance this extreme agenda through legislation that controls behavior and limits reproductive rights. The authors provide an overview of national attempts to establish legal fetal personhood in addition to a deep dive into efforts in Idaho and in Texas to ultimately illustrate how fetal personhood creep threatens individual freedoms and societal well-being. 

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Wendy S. Heipt & Julia Littell, Fetal Personhood Creep, 28 J. Gender, Race & Just. 283 (2025).