Assisted Human Reproduction: Psychological and Ethical Dilemmas / Edition 1

by Dani Singer, Myra Hunter

Overview

With contributions from: Eric Blyth, Ken Daniels, Julia Feast, Robert Lee, Nina Martin, Alexina McWhinnie, Derek Morgan, Clare Murray, Sharon Pettle, Claire Potter, Jim Richards and Francoise Shenfield

The separation of procreation from conception has broadened notions of parenthood and created novel dilemmas. A woman may carry a foetus derived from gametes neither or only one of which came from her or her partner; or she may carry a foetus created using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) with the purpose of handing it to two other parents one, neither or both of whom may be genetically related to the prospective child. Parents may consist of single-sex couples, only one of them genetically related to the child; the prospective mother may be past her menopause; and genetic parenthood after death is now achievable. In a world increasingly reliant on medical science, how can the argument that equates traditional with natural and novel with unnatural/unethical be justified? Should there be legislation, which is notoriously slow to change, in a field driven by dazzling new possibilities at ever faster rate; particularly when restrictions differ from country to country, so that those who can afford it travel elsewhere for their treatment of choice? Whose rights are paramount - the adults hoping to build a family or the prospective child(ren)s future well being? On what basis can apparently competing rights be regulated or adjudicated and how and to what extent can these be enforced in practice?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781861563491
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	02/24/2003
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.13(h) x 0.66(d)

About the Author

Dani Singer is the editor of Assisted Human Reproduction: Psychological and Ethical Dilemmas, published by Wiley.

Myra Sally Hunter is Professor of Clinical Health Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, and a Clinical and Health Psychologist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

Table of Contents

Contributors.

Foreword (Professor Susan Golombok).

Introduction.

Chapter 1: Assisted human reproduction: contemporary policy and practice in the UK (Eric Blyth, Nina Martin and Claire Potter).

Chapter 2: Issues of gamete donation and sex selection: a clinician's view (Francoise Shenfield).

Chapter 3: Ethical issues - the major faiths: a personal view (Jim Richards).

Chapter 4: Human reproduction and human rights (Derek Morgan and Robert G. Lee).

Chapter 5: Donor-assisted conception: what can we learn from adoption? (Julia Feast).

Chapter 6: Children raised in assisted human reproduction families: the evidence (Clare Murray).

Chapter 7: Disclosure and development: 'taking the bady home was just the beginning' (Alexina M. McWhinnie).

Chapter 8: Psychological therapy and counselling with individuals and families afrter donor conception (Sharon A. Pettle).

Chapter 9: Policy development in third party reproduction: an international perspective (Ken Daniels).

Appendix: Resources.

Index.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: James M West, M.D.(Medical College of Wisconsin Health Policy Institute)
Description: This is a very complete review of all the psychological and ethical dilemmas that may have to be faced by parents and the children of assisted human reproduction (AHR). The book systematically covers nine important areas of AHR.
Purpose: The purpose is to bring together key commentators on social and ethical issues in the field of assisted human reproduction to produce a timely and informative account of some of the most pressing issues facing us today. As I know of no other book that brings all these commentators together in one publication, I find this a very worthy objective which the editors meet well.
Audience: This book is pertinent for students of both medicine and bioethics as well as residents and practitioners. Although it is written mainly for ethicists and practitioners in the field of infertility medicine and counseling, the book is in plain enough English that even a lay person considering using assisted human reproduction will find this book useful. Every topic is addressed by authors well informed in their respective areas.
Features: This book covers the most important psychological and ethical dilemmas that have been unearthed by AHR. It addresses the question of whether children conceived by gamete donation should be open with their children about their donor conception. It also addresses selective access to infertility treatment, the implications of assisted reproduction for human rights, and conflicts between the practice of assisted human reproduction and religious beliefs. It has an especially good review of the opinion of the various faiths on AHR and a review of the lessons learned from adoption on the benefits of full disclosure. It also boasts an excellent list of references and resources.
Assessment: This book is well written and a very easy read. It brings up important questions about disclosure and the effect of assisted reproduction on both parents and offspring. I have not read any books similar to it, but I cannot imagine one bringing together any better list of authors to address the respective subjects. As a student of bioethics and a member of a working ethics committee in a hospital, I will find it very useful. In fact, I wish I had access to it several years ago when a woman requested the harvesting of her comatose husband's semen for future use.

Doody's Review Service

3 Stars from Doody