In other words, it is the unhappiness that would be experienced by the actual parents, not by the possible child, that justifies treating the two cases differently. If the French boy's life is even marginally worth living, then he is fortunate that his mother's case of German measles was not diagnosed. Let's suppose, however, that the boy's life is not worth living. One might say that the doctor who failed to detect the measles infringed on the boy's right not to have a miserable life. As for the child who might have been conceived by the French couple several months later had the measles been diagnosed, there are two ways of looking at his or her plight.
Nothing can be fortunate or unfortunate for such an entity.
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