Embryo Experimentation

Peter Singer (Edited by), Helga Kuhse (Edited by), Stephen Buckle (Edited by), Karen Dawson (Edited by), Pascal Kasimba (Edited by)

9780521435888, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 27 November 1992

280 pages, 2 b/w illus. 3 tables
25.4 x 17.8 x 1.9 cm, 0.789 kg

'I hope anyone who is going to have to vote on legislation (related to embryo experimentation) in the near future will read all of this book, and consider it thoroughly. It is, both factually and in terms of values, the most clear, comprehensive and up-to-date consideration of embryo experimentation yet to appear …'. Mary Warnock

New developments in reproductive technology have made headlines since the birth of the world's first in vitro fertilization baby in 1978. But is embryo experimentation ethically acceptable? What is the moral status of the early human embryo? And how should a democratic society deal with so controversial an issue, where conflicting views are based on differing religious and philosophical positions? These controversial questions are the subject of this book, which, as a current compendium of ideas and arguments on the subject, makes an original contribution of major importance to this debate.

Foreword J. D. McCaughey
1. Introduction Karen Dawson
Part I. The Scientific Issues: Introduction to this section Karen Dawson
Why do embryo research? Alan Trounson
Part II. The Moral Status of the Embryo The nature of ethical argument: an introduction Peter Singer and Helga Kuhse
(i) Arguments about the status of different developmental stages Fertilization and moral status Karen Dawson
Segmentation and moral status Karen Dawson
When does a new individual begin, and what does it matter, morally? Helga Kuhse
What makes a being morally significant? Peter Singer and Helga Kuhse
(ii) Arguments about potential IVF Technology and the argument from potential Peter Singer and Helga Kuhse
Arguing from potential Stephen Buckle
Part III. Controlling Embryo Experimentation in a Democratic Society (i) Legislation or self-regulation
The case for self-regulation John Funder
Community control of IVF and embryo experimentation Max Charlesworth
Self-regulation and embryo experimentation in Australia - a critique Pascal Kasimba
(ii) Forming a public policy Public policy in a pluralist society R. M. Hare
Is IVF research a threat to women's autonomy M. A. Warren
IVF regulation: the search for a legal basis Pascal Kasimba
How scientists view regulation: an interview with Drs Alan Trounson and Ismail Kola Karen Dawson
(iii) Drawing lines. Biological processes and moral events Stephen Buckle
The distinction between therapeutic and non-therapeutic experimentation Elizabeth Gaze and Karen Dawson
The syngamy debate: when does an embryo begin? Stephen Buckle, Karen Dawson and Peter Singer
Part IV. The First Legislation: An examination of Victoria's law
The Waller committee and the origins of the Victorian legistation Elizabeth Gaze
Experiments on embryos: permissions and prohibitions under the Infertility (Medical Procedures) Act, 1984 Pascal Kasimba
Legislation and the problems of research Karen Dawson
When is cloning lawful? Pascal Kasimba and Margaret Brumby
An interview with Louis Waller Elizabeth Gaze
Conclusion
Afterword J. M. Swan
Glossary Karen Dawson
Appendices: Infertility (Medical Procedures) Act, 1984 National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines on embryo experimentation A summary of law relating to embryo experimentation around the world Pascal Kasimba.

Subject Areas: Biomedical engineering [MQW], Medical ethics & professional conduct [MBDC], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ]