Quick takes on a slew of biomedical-ethics issues in down-to-earth,
sometimes downright slangy, let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may
prose. Caplan (If I Were a Rich Man I Could Buy a Pancreas and
Other Essays on Medical Ethics, not reviewed), a leading
bioethicist and director of the Center for Bioethics at the
University of Pennsylvania, has the common touch when it comes to
pointing out the implications of the numerous sticky problems
modern medicine has generated. He has grouped his essays into 11
categories, including abortion and birth control, genetics,
technological reproduction, managed care, starting and stopping
care, and assisted suicide. Many of these short pieces had their
beginnings as newspaper columns, and it shows. The lead-in is often
punchy: "Abortion kills"; "Quit blubbering"; "America is a nation
loony over individual liberty." The language is often flippant: Sex
offenders are "certified kooks" and "creeps," Dr. Kevorkian is a
"phony," a "dangerous nut" waging a "euthansia jihad"; Congress is
filled with "blockheads." The trigger for each story is often a
headline of the day, such as Mickey Mantle's speedy liver
transplant, O.J. Simpson's acquittal in the face of damning DNA
evidence, or presidential candidate Bob Dole's "gonzo views" on
tobacco. All this no doubt lent these pieces immediacy at the time,
but it now makes them seem a bit dated. Further, editing to combine
some of these short pieces would have eliminated unnecessary
repetition. While the brevity of these essays is often
disconcerting, Caplan is alert to new and developing problems,
swift at getting to what he sees as the heart of an issue, and
emphatic in his opinions. Provocative and accessible. High-school
teachers take note: Here's an approachable way to get the kids
thinking. (Kirkus Reviews)
If scientists can successfully clone sheep, will humans be next? Today's headlines read like a science fiction novel! Due Consideration takes a poignant look at the rapidly changing field of biomedicine and the consequences it will have on our lives. Arthur Caplan, one of this nation's leading bioethicists, explores these issues and analyzes moral questions including:
* Will we retain our essential humanity if we modify our biological blueprint?
* Would it be irresponsible to procreate without a thorough genetic examination?
* Who will decide if physical traits like short stature and baldness are considered diseases?
* Can biomedicine make our lives better?
You'll also learn about the most current and controversial topics such as:
* Cloning, abortion and assisted suicide.
* Genetically engineering a human to be immune from infectious diseases.
* The ability to "design" our children from head to toe.
* Diagnosing and treating illnesses during fetal development.
* Programs to prevent the transmission of HIV.
No other book on the market today combines this analytic clarity with the latest from medical journals and media headlines. Now, you can decide for yourself what the future ought to hold in store.
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