Ethics in Reproductive and Perinatal Medicine: A New Framework [Hardcover]

Professor Carson Strong (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0300068328 | ISBN-13: 978-0300068320 | Publication Date: April 24, 1997 | Edition: 1

Advances in reproductive and perinatal medicine have given rise to difficult ethical issues. Do all women have the right to choose whether to reproduce? What is the moral status of the foetus during various stages of gestation and what obligations do parents have to the foetus during this period? In this book Carson Strong develops an ethical framework that aims to help resolve these and many other issues of concern to health professionals, policymakers and the general public. Strong begins by exploring the significance of reproductive freedom, drawing on constitutional law and feminist writings, among other sources. Next he assesses the moral status of offspring during pre-embryonic, embryonic, foetal and postnatal stages of development, discussing the obligations of procreators during gestation, and offering a perspective on the idea that the moral standing of the foetus increases as foetal development proceeds. He then suggests an approach to the question of how priorities should be assigned to conflicting values, one that draws on a version of casuistic reasoning. In the second half of the book, Strong applies this ethical framework to some of the problematic areas in reproductive and perinatal medicine. These include prenatal genetic testing for susceptibilities to common diseases and for "enhancement" of offspring; research using pre-embryos and embryos; non-traditional family arrangements, such as surrogate motherhood and ovum donation for older women; and treatment of foetuses with anomalies. His discussion takes into account the clinical dimensions of issues and reflects a consideration of the ethical, legal, medical and psychosocial literature.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 1 edition (April 24, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300068328
• ISBN-13: 978-0300068320
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,909,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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