Customer Reviews

The Clone Age : Adventures in the New World of Reproductive Technology

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Did you know that a doctor can take a sample of your tissues, isolate some factor and then SELL it to drug companies for big bucks without asking your permission or paying you a dime?

I didn't, until I read this book.

What about the profits that gene researchers are making by patenting YOUR genes? Or about the undisclosed financial interest that regulators have in allowing such patents to proceed.

It's all in here and it makes for some very scary reading.

While most of us weren't looking, that portion of the medical community motivated primarily by greed has ventured into some very odd territory. The repercussions may make medicine even more expensive to the consumer at the same time as it makes health insurance even more unattainable.

In a world where medical mistakes already cost more lives each year than Cancer or AIDS, we cannot afford to trust our doctors to watch out for our best interests. This book makes it painfully clear the extent to which profit, rather than care for patients drives genetic and reproductive medicine.

A MUST read.

Seven years ago, wrestling with a hopeless prognosis of several world-class fertility specialists, I was haunted by a nightmare. Lost in a labyrinth of examining rooms I watched men and women in lab coats rushing past me. They belonged to a new hybrid species programmed to make as much money as they could. The dream left me with a feeling of dread, as if I had put my life into the wrong hands and almost lost it. In the last seven years of working with fertility issues I've heard stories of exploitation, greed, incompetence. I've met women and men who were living my nightmare. Still I was not prepared for the devastating reality of Ms. Andrews' courageous memoir. Anyone with a conscience, fertility expert or plain-clothes-human alike can't but ask herself after reading The Clone Age: How do we, as a society, insure that the miracles of technology do not estrange us from the miracles of our own bodies and souls?

Julia Indichova, author of Inconceivable: Winning the Fertility Game

Lori B. Andrews, the foremost expert on legal issues related to reproductive matters, has written what must be one of the most important books ever to address the fundamental building blocks of all human life. Anyone who cares deeply about any issue surrounding in vitro fertilization, cloning, sperm donors, the use of body tissue by science and the ethics related to these matter must read this book. In clear, exciting, entertaining and occasionally very humorous language, Andrews gives frightening details of the latest breakthroughs in research technology. Here's are just a few of the many provocative topics introduced: did you know that technology exists for harvesting eggs from human female fetuses? That it's technically possible to abort a girl child, but use it's eggs to create another human being at a later date? That sperm has been frequently 'harvested' from dead men? Or the fact that, although cloned animals often have severe defects, this procedure is being pushed forward in different places around the world? And government oversight of radical new reproductive technology is practically non-existent, while other medical procedures are always exposed to extreme scrutiny. Read this book! You'll never read another story about human reproduction or cloning the same way again.

I have no medical or legal background, but consider myself to be quite well-read and thus to have a good basic understanding of med/legal issues. I found "The Clone Age" raised issues on nearly every page that I had not previously considered. These issues, I feel, are ones that now, or will, impact myself, my community, my society. This book was very enlightening of numerous issues that are my responsibility to consider, evaluate, judge. I think this book is very important reading for thoughtful people.

I think is one of the best b ooks (in the field) that I ever read.

(How could I get in touch with L.B.A ?

This book arrived promptly. I was very dissatisfied with the condition on this book. It was listed as "Good Condition" it was "Fair Condition" at best. There was extensive underlining, highlighting and writing in the margins. I immediately emailed this sell (mid March) and have yet to get a response. This seller was not the lowest price, I chose them due to their geographic location for quick shipping. I will not use this seller again.

This book not only was an eye opener, but it made me mad. I can't believe people (researchers) would be so selfish and money hungry that they would jepordize the lives of women and unborn children. It reminds me of what Hitler wanted to do- selective breeding.

I do think couples who can't have children be afforded the opportunity to have kids- but do they really know what they are getting into with IVF and genetically engineered children.

This book is a must read so that you know what is going on in the name of science. Ms Andrews- a lawyer discusses legal aspects, ethical issues and medical exploitation. A very easy read.

Do you know what your doctor's are doing to you?

This book could have been an enlightening look on the legalities and challenges of the legal fabric worldwide in regards to both reproductive and cloning technology - which, despite the mistaken combining of the two within this book, are not the same thing.

Instead, the book reads like the 10 year old's nightmare the author claims does not dictate public policy. Her lack of understanding of differing cultural values demeans any pretense she has at being an expert.

Avoid, unless you support the future of biosciences and want to know your "frenemy."

If I could give it 0 stars, I would.

After reading and enjoying Michael Chriton's "Next" I decided to do some follow-up reading to further examine the world of genetic engineering and reproduction technologies. This is the first book that I choose to read and it more than met my expectations.

The book is easy to read, interesting, and gives a broad overview to these topics. It it not meant to be definitive, but rather a primer. I am guessing that there are in-depth books on the topics discussed in each chapter and I look forward to reading in more detail on several of them.

Perhaps the best part of all is that this is a fascinating read! I use many non-fiction books to help me go to sleep. This book reads like a good novel that I don't want to put down.

Andrews has written a book that anyone can read, and that everyone needs to. I have always been curious about all the different types of technologically enhanced breeding methods around the world, and Andrews brings them all into percpective. If you are looking for answers about "which method is best for me" or whatever, than this is not what you are looking for. This book shows us the insiders view of everything from sperm donation to cloning, all the positives and negatives, all the accomplishments and screw-ups. A must read.