by John A. Robertson (Author)
Cloning, genetic screening, embryo freezing, in vitro fertilization, Norplant, RU486--these are the technologies revolutionizing our reproductive landscape. Through the lens of procreative liberty--meaning both the freedom to decide whether or not to have children as well as the freedom to control one's reproductive capacity--John Robertson, a leading legal bioethicist, analyzes the ethical, legal, and social controversies surrounding each major technology and opens up a multitude of fascinating questions: Do frozen embryos have the right to be born? Should parents be allowed to select offspring traits? May a government force welfare recipients to take contraceptives? Robertson's arguments examine the broad range of consequences of each reproductive technology and offers a timely, multifaceted analysis of the competing interests at stake for patients, couples, doctors, policymakers, lawyers, and ethicists.
Back Jacket
"This book shows why John Robertson is correctly regarded as the leading legal theorist in the area of reproduction. On issues that have often brought extreme ideological responses from others, Robertson offers balanced, insightful, and persuasive analysis. There is not a better book on the ethical and legal issues of reproduction."--Dan W. Brock, Professor of Philosophy and Biomedical Ethics, Director, Center for Biomedical Ethics, Brown University
"A valuable and coherent book that brings together an apparently disparate group of reproductive technologies and practices through the examination of the principle of procreative liberty."--Robert D. Goldstein, UCLA School of Law
"Even if one disagrees with the particular answers which John Robertson gives to the ethical questions raised by the new technology, his book is nonetheless to be welcomed."--Anthony Daniels, Sunday Telegraph
Author Biography
John A. Robertson is the Thomas Watt Gregory Professor in the School of Law at the University of Texas at Austin, a fellow at the Hastings Center, and a member of the American Fertility Society. He is author of The Rights of the Critically Ill.