Solomon's Knife

An aborted fetus is ``transopted,'' or plunked, into an infertile woman and brought to term in this tendentious morality yarn. When Valerie Dalton opts for abortion, physician-with-a-mission Evelyn Fletcher lies about her intentions for the fetus. Alas, baby Renata is born with immune system problems due to prescribed hormone treatments, and only a bone-marrow transplant can save her. Of course, only marrow from the natural mother will do, so the ``transoption'' is inveiled to public scrutiny, much to the delight of the press, pro-lifers and pro-choicers. A trial ensues, and Fletcher argues that ``transoption'' would neatly put to rest all the outrage surrounding abortion. Perhaps it would, and if so, we will all be spared a reprise of this two-dimensional story--not to mention its gory (and often gratuitous) details of clinical procedures. (Apr.)