Ethical Dilemmas in Reproduction

Stem cell research, therapeutic cloning, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) are just a few of the issues receiving attention in the medical and general press. As new procedures, techniques, and treatment options become available, new ethical issues arise. Ethical Dilemmas in Reproduction examines the ever-changing interaction between ethics, society, and scientific advances in reproduction. It covers: The implications of PGD becoming PGS - selection rather than diagnosis Defining the embryo and its status in relation to the child to be How the debate on the embryo and its status changes with advances such as therapeutic cloning and the use of stem cells Evaluating the risks of multiple birth pregnancies and the material, psychological, and marital stress a couple may face The dilemmas that new techniques such as oocyte and ovarian freezing raise for women considering ways to preserve their fertility Preparing prospective parents for the psychological effects of secrecy and anonymity associated with children conceived through gamete donation The dilemmas involved in helping HIV patients have children The medical profession as a whole faces the responsibility of integrating the benefits of a new technique within the ethical questions raised in using that technique. Nowhere is this more evident than in the science of reproduction. Your patients depend upon your advice when making decisions in this sensitive area. Ethical Dilemmas in Reproduction provides a framework for articulating the issues and making decisions.