Ethical Issues in the New Reproductive Technologies

by Hull, Richard T.

• ISBN13: 9781591023197
• ISBN10: 159102319X
• Copyright: 2005-07-01
• Publisher: Prometheus Books

Summary

In the last few decades, as new reproductive technologies have been developed, couples desiring children have increasingly turned to various medical interventions when natural conception has been unsuccessful. These new technologies have raised ethical concerns from various quarters, including medical ethics committees, the American Fertility Society, and the Roman Catholic Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In this informative overview of the ethical implications of reproductive technologies, philosopher Richard T Hull offers a cross-section of the thinking of individuals specialising in the ethical and legal problems involved in this new area of medicine. The contributors reflect interests as varied as those of the enthusiastic proponent of the new reproductive technologies, the feminist opposing the exploitation of women, the social critic worrying about erosion of the responsibilities of parenting, and the traditionalist concerned with the transformation of the fundamental moral fabric and social character of the family. Many of the chapters include cases for further discussion and reflection. Also included are three speculative scenarios: selections from Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, and Gena Corea's report of the drive to develop an artificial womb. New to this edition are a glossary, which provides succinct definitions of highly technical terms and Web sites for further information, and a thorough index. This excellent collection of expert articles will stimulate appreciation of the complex and muti-tiered character of moral decision-making as it is experienced by patients, medical professionals, and legislators and jurists charged with preserving, protecting, and applying justly the principles of society.

Author Biography

Richard T. Hull, professor emeritus of philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Legal and Moral Claims about the Right to Assistance in Reproduction	p. 1
Review of the Issues	p. 1
Preview of the Selections	p. 6
The Constitutional Aspects of Procreative Liberty	p. 9
Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation: Replies to Certain Questions of the Day	p. 23
Ethical Considerations of New Reproductive Technologies	p. 45
Artificial Insemination	p. 55
Cases for Preliminary Discussion	p. 55
Review of the Issues	p. 56
Preview of the Selections	p. 62
The Subversive Sperm: "A False Strain of Blood"	p. 63
"There is of course the distinction dictated by nature": Law and the Problem of Paternity	p. 77
Fertility Drugs, GIFT, and IVF	p. 95
Cases for Preliminary Discussion	p. 95
Review of the Issues	p. 97
Preview of the Selections	p. 102
The Ethics of In Vitro Fertilization	p. 105
Test-Tube Babies: Ethical Considerations	p. 119
Human In Vitro Fertilization: A Conservative View	p. 131
A Criticism of Moral Conservatism's View of IVF and ET	p. 149
Gestational Surrogacy and Surrogate Motherhood	p. 161
Cases for Preliminary Discussion	p. 161
Review of the Issues	p. 162
Preview of the Selections	p. 167
Surrogate Mothers: Not So Novel After All	p. 169
In the Matter of Baby M., A Pseudonym for an Actual Person	p. 181
The Baby Broker Boom	p. 199
The Aftermath of Baby M.: Proposed State Laws on Surrogate Motherhood	p. 203
Fetal Monitoring, Sex Preselection, Non-Reproductive Uses of Fetuses, and Forced Medical Treatment of Pregnant Women	p. 219
Cases for Preliminary Discussion	p. 219
Review of the Issues	p. 221
Preview of the Selections	p. 224
Moral Obligations to the Not-Yet-Born: The Fetus as Patient	p. 227
Compelled Medical Treatment of Pregnant Women: Life, Liberty, and Law in Conflict	p. 243
Genetic Choice	p. 263
The Ethical Options in Transplanting Fetal Tissue	p. 283
Social Consequences of Increasing Infertility, State Control of Gestation, and the Possibility of Artificial Wombs: The Future of Reproduction?	p. 297
Cases for Preliminary Discussion	p. 297
Review of the Issues	p. 299
Preview of the Selections	p. 300
Historical Notes on The Handmaid's Tale	p. 303
The Central London Hatchery: Chapter One of Brave New World	p. 313
The Artificial Womb: An Escape from "The Dark and Dangerous Place": Chapter Twelve of The Mother Machine	p. 323
Glossary	p. 333
About the Authors	p. 361
Index	p. 365
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