--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You may be surprised to learn that, in…" description: "\"You may be surprised to learn that, in our law, although the fetus is currently without the right to life, it does have some rights. For instance, unde..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/janet-e-smith-54347_abortion_you-may-be-surprised-to-learn-that-in-ou_2334014.png" --- # You may be surprised to learn that, in our law, although… ![“You may be surprised to learn that, in our law, although the fetus is currently without the right to life, it does have some rights. For instance, under civil law, the unborn child has the right to inherit part of his father's estate should his father die before he is born, and he has the right to…” quote by Janet E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/janet-e-smith-54347_abortion_you-may-be-surprised-to-learn-that-in-ou_2334014.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/janet-e-smith-54347_abortion_you-may-be-surprised-to-learn-that-in-ou_2334014.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/janet-e-smith-54347_abortion_you-may-be-surprised-to-learn-that-in-ou_2334014.png) > “You may be surprised to learn that, in our law, although the fetus is currently without the right to life, it does have some rights. For instance, under civil law, the unborn child has the right to inherit part of his father's estate should his father die before he is born, and he has the right to sue his Mother, or a doctor, for injuiries sustained while in the womb.” [Janet E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-e-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The unborn child holds limited civil rights, such as inheritance and the ability to sue for prenatal injuries, despite lacking a right to life. **In simple terms:** Unborn children can inherit and sue, though they lack life rights. Key Takeaway Recognize that legal protections can exist without full moral status. Themes law ethics rights personhood Mood thoughtful analytical Type legal ethical When to use this quote - estate planning - prenatal injury lawsuits - family law debates Key Concepts civil law inheritance medical liability Questions to Reflect On - How do these rights affect abortion debates? - What are the moral implications of granting limited rights? A Different Perspective Legal rights for fetuses are contested and vary by jurisdiction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Estates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/estates/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Fetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fetus/) [Instance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Fetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-fetus-5625382/) [Law Unborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-unborn-5625383/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Right to life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-life/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Unborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unborn/) [Unborn child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unborn-child/) [Womb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/womb/) ## Related quotes > [The most brutal form of domestic violence is the violence against unborn children, and this particular bill would prohibit abortions after the fetus feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fischer/the-most-brutal-form-of-domestic-violence-is-the-violence-against/) [Joseph Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fischer/) > [If the Declaration of Independence states our creed, there can be no right to abortion, since it means denying the most fundamental right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/if-the-declaration-of-independence-states-our-creed-there-can-be-no/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [More than a decade ago, a Supreme Court decision literally wiped off the books of fifty states statutes protecting the rights of unborn children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/more-than-a-decade-ago-a-supreme-court-decision-literally-wiped-off/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/but-i-feel-that-the-greatest-destroyer-of-peace-today-is-abortion/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [And if we can accept that a mother can kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/and-if-we-can-accept-that-a-mother-can-kill-her-own-child-how-can-we/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [My strong personal view, which I believe is shared by millions of Americans, is that our party should make a strong statement in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-casey/my-strong-personal-view-which-i-believe-is-shared-by-millions-of/) [Robert Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-casey/) > [All human beings have a right to life. Our unborn children are members of the human race. They're human beings, so they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/all-human-beings-have-a-right-to-life-our-unborn-children-are-members/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [As president, I will take that common ground and sign the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. I will stop allowing taxpayer money to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/as-president-i-will-take-that-common-ground-and-sign-the-pain-capable/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [The question that arises as we use all these adjectives and adverbs to describe our physicians as we approach a Supreme Court nominee is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-question-that-arises-as-we-use-all-these-adjectives-and-adverbs/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [Unless and until it can be proven that an unborn child is not a human being, can we justify assuming without proof that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/unless-and-until-it-can-be-proven-that-an-unborn-child-is-not-a-human/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act doesn't protect women's health. It threatens it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/the-pain-capable-unborn-child-protection-act-doesn-t-protect-women-s/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Unborn children can experience pain even more so than adults as the baby has more pain receptors per square inch than at any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-brownback/unborn-children-can-experience-pain-even-more-so-than-adults-as-the/) [Sam Brownback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-brownback/) > [It will take a massive effort to move society from corporate domination, in which industry's rights to pollute and damage health and the environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-gibbs/it-will-take-a-massive-effort-to-move-society-from-corporate/) [Lois Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-gibbs/) > [After the first trimester, I do think that there is some room for the government to intervene, because at that point, it is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/after-the-first-trimester-i-do-think-that-there-is-some-room-for-the/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [Americans are the nicest, most generous, and sentimental people on earth. Yet Americans have killed more unborn children than any nation in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-percy/americans-are-the-nicest-most-generous-and-sentimental-people-on/) [Walker Percy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-percy/) ## More by Janet E. Smith > [Abortion is a denial of one of those powers which make women women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-e-smith/abortion-is-a-denial-of-one-of-those-powers-which-make-women-women/) [Janet E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-e-smith/) > [What is the purpose and meaning and nature of sexual intercourse? It seems to me to be quite clear. It's for two things. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-e-smith/what-is-the-purpose-and-meaning-and-nature-of-sexual-intercourse-it/) [Janet E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-e-smith/) > [We need to realize that a society in which contraceptives are widely used is going to have a very difficult time keeping free of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-e-smith/we-need-to-realize-that-a-society-in-which-contraceptives-are-widely/) [Janet E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-e-smith/) > [A woman who sets her rights, the supposed right to privacy or right over her own body, above the life of another human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-e-smith/a-woman-who-sets-her-rights-the-supposed-right-to-privacy-or-right/) [Janet E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-e-smith/) > [We live in a culture in which condoms can be handed out in schools and Bibles can't. And I think that tells you everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-e-smith/we-live-in-a-culture-in-which-condoms-can-be-handed-out-in-schools/) [Janet E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-e-smith/) [Explore all 6 Janet E. Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-e-smith/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) [Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/) > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) [Madison Badesheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-badesheim/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. 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These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) [Sonya Renee Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-renee-taylor/) > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You may be surprised to learn that, in our law, although the fetus is currently without the right to life, it does have some rights. For instance, under civil law, the unborn child has the right to inherit part of his father's estate should his father die before he is born, and he has the right to sue his Mother, or a doctor, for injuiries sustained while in the womb.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Janet E. 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