Rigorous study of the constitutional right to choose reproductive
technology, by law professor/legal bioethicist Robertson (Univ. of
Texas, Austin). For the author of The Rights of the Critically Ill
(not reviewed), procreative liberty - the freedom to decide whether
or not to have children, and whether or not to rear them - is a
fundamental right of all individuals, fertile or infertile.
Therefore, he argues, individuals should be free to choose
reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization and the
morning-after pill without government interference, unless the
state can demonstrate a compelling interest in regulating such a
choice. It seldom can, he claims. For example, the government may
justifiably mandate that a severely retarded girl use the long-term
contraceptive Norplant to protect her from sexual abuse in an
institutional setting, but it may not make Norplant compulsory for
HIV-positive individuals or convicted child abusers. Robertson
contends that a "basic commitment to procreative liberty" entails
respecting a couple's advance agreement to freeze or discard
embryos, to enforce surrogacy contracts (even if the gestating
mother later changes her mind), and (probably) to genetically
"enhance" embryos. He analyzes the constitutional implications of
each technology with a law professor's penchant for outlines and
obfuscation (e.g., "Objections to paying surrogates are often more
deontological than consequentialist"), but with a firm sense of the
wrenching real-world questions left unanswered and the specific
ways people can protect their reproductive rights. For instance, he
urges that lesbian couples seeking children through artificial
insemination "have one partner provide the egg for the embryo which
is then gestated by the other partner." A searching exploration of
the ever-expanding parameters of "choice" written with Solomon-like
sagacity. General readers will certainly be challenged, but this is
not a law book for lawyers only. (Kirkus Reviews)
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.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
