MANAGING BEST PRACTICES: When a fetus goes to work. . .
Should a fetus have rights? The June 9 (2003) cover of Newsweek asked this question and 87% of the more than 53,000 people that answered an online poll said yes. This is nearly a complete reversal of public views from less than a decade ago.
The changing public views on fetal rights have not been lost on politicians (or lawyers). By the time you read this article President Bush may already have signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act into federal law. Although the unborn victims law, and similar state versions, will not have an immediate impact upon safety and health in most workplaces, continuing legal actions to provide rights to a fetus will have a profound impact on how safety and health pros approach and manage workplace hazards and risks.