Shelly Palmer Radio Report – May 22, 2012

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You know technology is way ahead of the law.  But yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, says it’s way, way ahead.  18 months after Karen Capato’s husband Robert passed away from cancer, she gave birth to his biological twins through artificial insemination.  A blessing, to be sure, but – the Supreme Court ruled that the twins can not get Social Security survivor benefits because Mr. Capato was not alive when they were conceived.  No one is denying that the twins are the biological offspring of Mr. Capato, just, that, because he was dead, even though his sperm was alive, the kids are on their own.  Now there is legal precedent for this and the jurists probably have it right under the law, but the law better get ready for what’s coming.  Would Mr. Capato’s clone, born after his death, be him?  How about if he was frozen, instead of just his sperm, and then revived.  It may sound like science fiction, but the technology is around the corner.

Author:

Shelly Palmer

Shelly Palmer is Fox 5 New York's On-air Tech Expert (WNYW-TV) and the host of Fox Television's monthly show Shelly Palmer Digital Living. He also hosts United Stations Radio Network's, Shelly Palmer Digital Living Daily, a daily syndicated radio report that features insightful commentary and a unique insiders take on the biggest stories in technology, media, and entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group, LLC an industry-leading advisory and business development firm and a member of the Executive Committee of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy® Awards).

  • Hollywood5459

    The entire court, surprisingly, got it right. Her decision, whether her dead husband’s sperm or a stranger’s, and it’s her responsibility. It’s called choice. Her choice to have more children she could not afford is not her right; it’s a lack of perspective and selfish. Maybe she and the octomom could exchange pointers.