It seems that in our concern about the negative implications of “egg-as-person” laws for women–you know, loss of autonomy for the woman as a person, loss of access to contraception, abortion and any medical intervention that might save her life but adversely affect her fertilized egg, loss of legal rights to do anything that might *potentially* adversely affect a fertilized egg because she might *potentially* be pregnant at any moment between the years of 11 and 55–we have overlooked some potential benefits.

Courtesy of our friends in the feminist blogger/journalist communities in Colorado and throughout the U.S., here are some potential benefits and some additional negative implications of recognizing zygotes, or fertilized eggs, as persons.

Women could:

• Drive in the high-occupancy or carpool lane at all times
• Get a federal dependent tax deduction from the moment of fertilization
• Demand to be served two-for-one meal restaurant specials
• Collect Social Security and Medicare nine months early
• Blame the “egg” for any misdeed or crimes; cop only to being an unwilling accessory
• Sue their egg(s) for pain and suffering

On the other hand, there are some as-yet unconsidered implications for those zygotes and their “hosts.”

• Eggs could appear as aggrieved parties on “Judge Judy.”
• The possibility of carrying a fertilized egg could leave women subject to being charged for two seats by an airline (for her and her “egg”) (but no extra peanuts!).
• Ultrasounds could be subject to invasion of privacy complaints by eggs.
• The “truth truck” could be sued for defamation of character.
• A fertilized egg could sue for wrongful imprisonment in a womb.
• Age discrimination law age ranges would need to be rolled back 9 months.
  

It’s all those unintended consequences….

Feel free to add your own.