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You own your house, your car, your clothes. But do you legally own your own body? The answer may surprise you.

Most people know that the thirteenth amendment to the United States Constitution outlaws slavery. But now in the 21st century, do you legally own your own body?

If you think about it for a moment, even here in the liberty loving United States of America, there are numerous laws and regulations about what people can do with their own body.

For example:

  • It is illegal to put certain drugs in your body.
  • Prostitution in certain places is illegal.
  • Abortion is regulated.
  • Suicide is illegal in most states.

In fact, the more you think about it the more you realize the law does not treat your body as your own property. I would say your body is more regulated than your car in your garage.

But, is there any limitation on how the government can regulate your body?

What if the government said you could only have one child per household?

There is no bright line rule but Justice Brennan in a United States Supreme Court case said that such a law would be unconstitutional under the Constitution’s privacy rights.

However, in a more recent line of cases involving ground breaking medical gene therapy, courts have held that you have no interest in your own cells even when they are used for commercial purposes and even when the people who donated their cells were lied to about the purpose of the donation.

So, no, you do not own your own body under the law. But there you have it.

Join the discussion 9 Comments

  • Alexandre says:

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    • Kriste says:

      ANY man made laws is obsurd! We don’t need babysitters & are fully capable of handling our own affairs. We all know that the ONLY reason we have laws is to make money & that is it! Nothing more nothing less. God did not give us free will just so man could turn around and impose his will and law upon us I am an individual and I shall be treated as such! who is anyone to tell anybody else what they can and cannot do it’s not God’s law and that’s the only law that matters too me. If we had no government the world would be a more peaceful place we would help each other out not as a handout but to simply help as intended. help your brother and your neighbor but no we have no rights we have nothing but greedy rulers & their enslaved citizens on this God forsaken planet and I for one am sick of it. It’s time for a cool cool change my friends.

  • Dane Elder says:

    We sort of own our own bodies, but only the way we own our houses. We can’t grow pot inside of our homes in some jurisdiction, and even some cities have ordinances regarding how we live in our houses. My major is political science, concentration of law and public policy. I think we actually own our own bodies more than our elected officials give us credit for, and I am all for resolving the conflict between reproductive rights, justice, and public participation. There is tension between what the government does and what we do, and I believe that is because we are simply not perfect. I secured a hysterectomy at a young age because I made my case directly to three different doctors-telling them that 2 pregnancy losses (which took weeks, by the way–servicewomen never really got the benefit of roe–even in wanted pregnancies that were moribund), and I challenged the third doctor to take a penknife and stab himself with it and walk around for 23 days straight, bleeding,–oh, and work a job standing on his feet for 8 to 10 hours straight. Yes, I got the hysterectomy, and I never looked back. I own my body, but I have to make the case to defend it. Come to think of it, possession might be nine-tenths of the law–might the last tenth simply be defense and perseverence?

  • Alicent Jenner says:

    The concept of owning one’s own body is complex and varies across different philosophical, legal, and cultural perspectives. In many societies, individuals are considered to have bodily autonomy and the right to make decisions about their own bodies. travis bickle jacket

  • Susan Schott says:

    “Habeas Corpus “ was settled many years ago in England. Yes, you do own your own body!

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  • Manuel Moda says:

    Surprsing information! Your blog website is informative. The united states law about body does not allow anyone to own their body. Your website shares unique information about laws.

  • Paul Mohr says:

    The question of whether we legally own our own bodies is complex, touching on legal, ethical, and personal aspects of autonomy. It’s empowering to see more people taking control of their well-being through choices that support health and wellness. Balancemedspa offers a range of treatments that empower individuals to care for their bodies holistically, enhancing both physical and mental health. It’s a reminder that we have the right to make choices that contribute to our well-being!

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