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All Topic Reviews "Are You There Alone?"10 Good Questions about Life and DeathA Casebook of Ethical Challenges in NeuropsychologyA Companion to BioethicsA Companion to GenethicsA Companion to GenethicsA Delicate BalanceA Matter of SecurityA Philosophical DiseaseA Practical Guide to Clinical Ethics ConsultingA Question of TrustAction and ResponsibilityAction Theory, Rationality and CompulsionAdvance Directives in Mental HealthAfter HarmAftermathAgainst BioethicsAgency and AnswerabilityAgency and ResponsibilityAging, Biotechnology, and the FutureAlbert Schweitzer's Reverence for LifeAltruismAmerican EugenicsAn Anthology of Psychiatric EthicsAnd a Time to DieAnimals Like UsAre Women Human?Assisted Suicide and the Right to DieAutonomy and the Challenges to LiberalismBabies by DesignBeauty JunkiesBefore ForgivingBeing YourselfBending Over BackwardsBending ScienceBernard WilliamsBetter Than WellBeyond ChoiceBeyond GeneticsBeyond HatredBeyond Moral JudgmentBeyond the DSM StoryBias in Psychiatric DiagnosisBioethicsBioethicsBioethics and the BrainBioethics Beyond the HeadlinesBioethics in a Liberal SocietyBioethics in the ClinicBiomedical EthicsBiomedical EthicsBiomedical EthicsBiomedical EthicsBiomedical Research and BeyondBiosBipolar ChildrenBluebirdBodies out of BoundsBodies, Commodities, and BiotechnologiesBody BazaarBoundaries and Boundary Violations in PsychoanalysisBrandedBreaking the SilenceBuffy the Vampire Slayer and PhilosophyCase Studies in Biomedical Research EthicsChildrenChoosing ChildrenClinical Dilemmas in PsychotherapyClinical EthicsCloningClose toYouCoercion as CureCognition of Value in Aristotle's EthicsComfortably NumbCommonsense RebellionCommunicative Action and Rational ChoiceCompetence, Condemnation, and CommitmentComprehending CareConducting Insanity EvaluationsConfidential RelationshipsConfidentiality and Mental HealthConflict of Interest in the ProfessionsConsuming KidsContemporary Debates In Applied EthicsContemporary Debates in Moral TheoryContemporary Debates in Social PhilosophyContentious IssuesContesting PsychiatryCrazy in AmericaCreatures Like Us?Crime, Punishment, and Mental IllnessCritical Perspectives in Public HealthCritical PsychiatryCrueltyCultural Assessment in Clinical PsychiatryCutting to the CoreCyborg CitizenDamaged IdentitiesDeaf Identities in the MakingDeath Is That Man Taking NamesDecoding the Ethics CodeDefining DifferenceDefining Right and Wrong in Brain ScienceDementiaDemons of the Modern WorldDescriptions and PrescriptionsDestructive Trends in Mental HealthDid My Neurons Make Me Do It?Difference and IdentityDigital HemlockDigital SoulDisability BioethicsDisability, Difference, DiscriminationDisorders of VolitionDivided Minds and Successive SelvesDoes Feminism Discriminate against Men?Double Standards in Medical Research in Developing CountriesDrugs and JusticeDworkin and His CriticsEarly WarningEmbodied RhetoricsEmerging Conceptual, Ethical and Policy Issues in BionanotechnologyEmotional ReasonEmpathy and Moral DevelopmentEmpirical Ethics in PsychiatryEncountering NatureEncountering the Sacred in PsychotherapyEngendering International HealthEnhancing EvolutionEnoughEros and the GoodErotic InnocenceErotic MoralityEssays on Free Will and Moral ResponsibilityEthical Choices in Contemporary MedicineEthical Conflicts in PsychologyEthical Dilemmas in PediatricsEthical Issues in Behavioral ResearchEthical Issues in Dementia CareEthical Issues in Forensic Mental Health ResearchEthical Issues in the New GeneticsEthical Reasoning for Mental Health ProfessionalsEthical TheoryEthical WillsEthically Challenged ProfessionsEthicsEthicsEthics and the A PrioriEthics and the Discovery of the UnconsciousEthics and the Metaphysics of MedicineEthics Case Book of the American Psychoanalytic AssociationEthics Done RightEthics ExpertiseEthics for EveryoneEthics for the New MillenniumEthics in Health CareEthics In Health Services ManagementEthics in Mental Health ResearchEthics in PsychologyEthics in Psychotherapy and CounselingEthics of PsychiatryEthics without OntologyEthics, Culture, and PsychiatryEvaluating the Science and Ethics of Research on HumansEvil GenesEvil in Modern ThoughtEvolution, Gender, and RapeEvolutionary Ethics and Contemporary BiologyEvolutionary Psychology and ViolenceExperiments in EthicsExploding the Gene MythFacing Human SufferingFact and ValueFaking ItFalse-Memory Creation in Children and AdultsFatal FreedomFellow-Feeling and the Moral LifeFeminism and Its DiscontentsFeminist TheoryFinal ExamFirst Do No HarmFirst, Do No HarmFlashpointFlesh WoundsForgivenessFoucault and the Government of DisabilityFoundations of Forensic Mental Health AssessmentFree WillFree Will And Moral ResponsibilityFreedom and ValueFreedom vs. InterventionFrom Morality to Mental HealthFrom Silence to VoiceFrontiers of JusticeGender in the MirrorGenetic PoliticsGenetic ProspectsGenetic ProspectsGenocide's AftermathGluttonyGood WorkGoodness & AdviceGreedGrowing Up GirlHandbook for Health Care Ethics CommitteesHandbook of BioethicsHandbook of PsychopathyHappinessHappiness Is OverratedHarmful ThoughtsHeal & ForgiveHealing PsychiatryHealth Care Ethics for PsychologistsHeterosyncraciesHistorical and Philosophical Perspectives on Biomedical EthicsHoly WarHookedHookedHow Can I Be Trusted?How to Make Opportunity EqualHuman GoodnessHuman Identity and BioethicsHuman TrialsHumanism, What's That?HumanityHumanizing MadnessI am Not Sick I Don't Need Help!I Was WrongIdentifying Hyperactive ChildrenImproving Nature?In Love With LifeIn Our Own ImageIn the FamilyIn the Land of the DeafIn the Name of IdentityIn the Wake of 9/11In Two MindsInformed Consent in Medical ResearchInnovation in Medical TechnologyIntelligence, Race, and GeneticsIntensive CareIs Human Nature Obsolete?Is Long-Term Therapy Unethical?Is There a Duty to Die?Is There an Ethicist in the House?Issues in Philosophical CounselingJudging Children As ChildrenJust a DogJustice for ChildrenJustice in RobesJustice, Luck, and KnowledgeKids of CharacterLack of CharacterLack of CharacterLaw and the BrainLearning About School ViolenceLeaving YouLectures on the History of Political PhilosophyLegal and Ethical Aspects of HealthcareLegal Aspects of Mental CapacityLet Them Eat ProzacLevelling the Playing FieldLiberal Education in a Knowledge SocietyLiberal EugenicsLife at the BottomLife, Sex, and IdeasListening to the WhispersLiving ProfessionalismLosing Matt ShepardLostLuckyMad in AmericaMad PrideMadhouseMaking Babies, Making FamiliesMaking Genes, Making WavesMasculinity Studies and Feminist TheoryMeaning and Moral OrderMedical Enhancement and PosthumanityMedical Research for HireMedicalized MasculinitiesMedically Assisted DeathMeditations for the HumanistMelancholia and MoralismMental Health Professionals, Minorities and the PoorMerit, Meaning, and Human BondageMetaethical SubjectivismMill's UtilitarianismMind FieldsMind WarsModern Theories of JusticeModernity and TechnologyMonsterMoral ClarityMoral CultivationMoral Development and RealityMoral Dilemmas in Real LifeMoral DimensionsMoral LiteracyMoral MachinesMoral MindsMoral ParticularismMoral RelativismMoral RepairMoral Responsibility and Alternative PossibilitiesMoral StealthMoral Value and Human DiversityMorality and Self-InterestMorality in a Natural WorldMorals, Rights and Practice in the Human ServicesMorals, Rights and Practice in the Human ServicesMore Than HumanMovies and the Moral Adventure of LifeMurder in the InnMy Body PoliticMy Sister's KeeperMy WayNano-Bio-EthicsNarrative MedicineNarrative ProsthesisNatural Ethical FactsNatural-Born CybogsNeither Bad nor MadNeonatal BioethicsNeuroethicsNeuroethicsNo Child Left DifferentNormative EthicsNormativityOath BetrayedOf War and LawOn ApologyOn Being AuthenticOn Human RightsOn The Stigma Of Mental IllnessOn the TakeOn Virtue EthicsOne Nation Under TherapyOur Daily MedsOur Posthuman FutureOut of Its MindOut of the ShadowsOverdosed AmericaOxford Textbook of Philosophy of PsychiatryPassionate DeliberationPatient Autonomy and the Ethics of ResponsibilityPC, M.D.Personal AutonomyPersonal Autonomy in SocietyPersonal Identity and EthicsPersonhood and Health CarePersons, Humanity, and the Definition of DeathPerspectives On Health And Human RightsPharmacracyPhilosophy and This Actual WorldPhilosophy of BiologyPhilosophy of Technology: The Technological ConditionPhysician-Assisted DyingPlaying God?Playing God?Powerful MedicinesPractical Ethics for PsychologistsPractical RulesPragmatic BioethicsPragmatic BioethicsPraise and BlamePreferences and Well-BeingPrimates and PhilosophersProfits Before People?Property in the BodyProzac As a Way of LifeProzac on the CouchPsychiatric Aspects of Justification, Excuse and Mitigation in Anglo-American Criminal Law Psychiatric EthicsPsychiatry and EmpirePsychological Concepts and Biological PsychiatryPsychology and Consumer CulturePsychology and LawPsychotropic Drug Prescriber's Survival GuidePublic Health LawPublic Health Law and EthicsPublic PhilosophyPunishing the Mentally IllPunishmentPutting Morality Back Into PoliticsPutting on VirtueQuality of Life and Human DifferenceRaceRadical HopeRadical VirtuesRe-creating MedicineRe-Engineering Philosophy for Limited BeingsReason's GriefReckoning With HomelessnessRecovery from SchizophreniaRedesigning HumansReducing the Stigma of Mental IllnessReframing Disease ContextuallyRefusing CareRefuting Peter Singer's Ethical TheoryReligion ExplainedReprogeneticsRescuing JeffreyResponsibilityResponsibility and PunishmentResponsible GeneticsRethinking CommodificationRethinking Informed Consent in BioethicsRethinking Mental Health and DisorderRethinking RapeReturn to ReasonRevolution in PsychologyRightsRights, Democracy, and Fulfillment in the Era of Identity PoliticsRisk and Luck in Medical EthicsRobert NozickRunning on RitalinSatisficing and MaximizingSchizophrenia, Culture, and SubjectivityScience and EthicsScience in the Private InterestScience, Seeds and CyborgsScratching the Surface of BioethicsSelf-Made MadnessSelf-Trust and Reproductive AutonomySentimental RulesSexual DevianceSexual EthicsSexualized BrainsShould I Medicate My Child?ShunnedSick to Death and Not Going to Take It AnymoreSickoSide EffectsSidewalk StoriesSkeptical FeminismSocial Inclusion of People with Mental IllnessSocial JusticeSociological Perspectives on the New GeneticsSovereign VirtueSpiral of EntrapmentSplit DecisionsSticks and StonesStories MatterSuffering, Death, and IdentitySurgery JunkiesSurgically Shaping ChildrenTaming the Troublesome ChildTechnology and the Good Life?TestimonyText and Materials on International Human RightsThe Almost MoonThe American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Forensic PsychiatryThe Art of LivingThe Autonomy of MoralityThe Big FixThe Bioethics ReaderThe Biology and Psychology of Moral AgencyThe Blackwell Guide to Medical EthicsThe Body SilentThe Book of LifeThe Burden of SympathyThe Cambridge Textbook of BioethicsThe Case against Assisted SuicideThe Case Against PerfectionThe Case Against PunishmentThe Case of Terri SchiavoThe Challenge of Human RightsThe Colonization Of Psychic SpaceThe Commercialization of Intimate LifeThe Common ThreadThe Constitution of AgencyThe Creation of PsychopharmacologyThe Criminal BrainThe Decency WarsThe Difficult-to-Treat Psychiatric PatientThe Disability PendulumThe Double-Edged HelixThe Emotional Construction of MoralsThe End of Ethics in a Technological SocietyThe Essentials of New York Mental Health LawThe Ethical BrainThe Ethical Dimensions of the Biological and Health SciencesThe Ethics of BioethicsThe Ethics ToolkitThe Evolution of Mental Health LawThe Evolution of MoralityThe Form of Practical KnowledgeThe Fountain of YouthThe Future of Assisted Suicide and EuthanasiaThe Future of Human NatureThe Great BetrayalThe Handbook of Disability StudiesThe High Price of MaterialismThe History of Human RightsThe Illusion of Freedom and EqualityThe Importance of Being UnderstoodThe Insanity OffenseThe Language PoliceThe Last Normal ChildThe Limits of MedicineThe LobotomistThe Love CureThe Lucifer EffectThe Manual of EpictetusThe Mark of ShameThe Medicalization of SocietyThe Merck DruggernautThe Mind Has MountainsThe Modern Art of DyingThe Moral Demands of MemoryThe Moral MindThe Moral, Social, and Commercial Imperatives of Genetic Testing and ScreeningThe New Disability HistoryThe New Genetic MedicineThe Perfect BabyThe Philosophy of NeedThe Philosophy of PsychiatryThe Politics Of LustThe Portable Ethicist for Mental Health Professionals The Price of TruthThe Problem of PunishmentThe Prosthetic ImpulseThe Psychology of Good and EvilThe PsychopathThe Pursuit of PerfectionThe Relevance of Philosophy to LifeThe Right Road to Radical FreedomThe Root of All EvilThe Rules of InsanityThe Second-Person StandpointThe Silent World of Doctor and PatientThe Sleep of ReasonThe Social Psychology of Good and EvilThe Speed of DarkThe Stem Cell ControversyThe Stem Cell ControversyThe Story of Cruel and UnusualThe Terrible GiftThe Theory of OptionsThe Trauma of Psychological TortureThe Trauma of Psychological TortureThe Trouble with DiversityThe Truth About the Drug CompaniesThe Varieties of Religious ExperienceThe Virtuous Life in Greek EthicsThe Voice of Breast Cancer in Medicine and BioethicsThe War Against BoysThe War for Children's MindsThe Whole ChildThe Woman RacketThe Worldwide Practice of TortureTherapy with ChildrenTimes of Triumph, Times of DoubtTolerance and the Ethical LifeTolerationToxic PsychiatryTrauma, Truth and ReconciliationTreatment Kind and FairTry to RememberUltimate JudgementUnborn in the USA: Inside the War on AbortionUndermining ScienceUnderstanding CloningUnderstanding EmotionsUnderstanding EvilUnderstanding Physician-Pharmaceutical Industry InteractionsUnderstanding TerrorismUnderstanding the GenomeUnderstanding the Stigma of Mental IllnessUnderstanding Treatment Without ConsentUnprincipled VirtueUnsanctifying Human Life: Essays on EthicsUnspeakable Acts, Ordinary PeopleUp in FlamesUpheavals of ThoughtUsers and Abusers of PsychiatryValue-Free Science?Values and Psychiatric DiagnosisValues in ConflictViolence and Mental DisorderVirtue, Vice, and PersonalityWar Against the WeakWar, Torture and TerrorismWarrior's DishonourWelfare and Rational CareWhat Genes Can't DoWhat Is Good and WhyWhat Is Good and WhyWhat Is the Good Life?What Price Better Health?What We Owe to Each OtherWhat Would Aristotle Do?What's Normal?What's Wrong with Children's RightsWhen Is Discrimination Wrong?Who Holds the Moral High Ground?Who Qualifies for Rights?Whose America?Whose View of Life?Why Animals MatterWhy I Burned My Book and Other Essays on DisabilityWhy Not Kill Them All?Wisdom, Intuition and EthicsWithout ConscienceWomen and Borderline Personality DisorderWomen and MadnessWondergenesWrestling with Behavioral GeneticsWriting About PatientsYou Must Be DreamingYour Genetic DestinyYour Inner Fish
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 Review - ReprogeneticsLaw, Policy, and Ethical Issues by Lori P. Knowles and Gregory E. Kaebnik (Editors) Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007 Review by Constance Perry, Ph.D. Sep 16th 2008 (Volume 12, Issue 38) fThere is a classic Calvin and Hobbes comic strip with a snowman staring intently at a snowball. Calvin goes on to explain to Hobbes how the snowman is faced with tough questions about the meaning of existence, including "the Morality of throwing one's genetic precursors at someone." The snowman's dilemma mirrors our own issues about how to treat and classify human gametes and embryos. "Reprogenetics" is defined by Lori P. Knowles and Gregory E. Kaebnik as including "all interventions involved in the creation, use, manipulation, or storage of gametes and embryos." (p. ix) It is one means by which humans can take some control of, if not their own creation, that of their children. In the United States, the existing regulation is minimal. What exists is a confusing set of policies and laws created without much organization or interconnectedness. This leaves researchers, clinicians and potential parents with little guidance other than their own moral judgments. Yet, is this best? Knowles and Kaebnik's text, Reprogenetics: Law, Policy and Ethical Issues, focuses on the question of whether or not the United States would benefit from more and/or better regulation of reprogenetic technology. It is not a text on the ethics of reprogenetics per se. But rather, it focuses on whether this area would benefit from increased regulation. All of the articles in this collection support some form of increased regulation of reprogenetic technology in the United States. However there is a diversity of opinion on the degree and form such regulation should take, running the gamut from using existing public, commercial and professional mechanisms to encourage compliance within a realm of generally agreed upon accepted practice standards, to advocacy for a regulatory group similar to that created by Britain's Human Fertilization and Embryology Act of 1990 (HFEA). The articles are divided into four sections: the historical and regulatory landscape; ethical issues in reprogenetics; international regulation of reprogenetics; and regulating reprogenetics in the U.S. The greatest strength of the text is that it enables the reader to access and understand the patchy web of regulations that exists in the United States and how it came to be this way. By comparing the U.S. with the regulatory structures of mainly Britain and Canada, the book chapters work together to leave the reader with a better understanding of the challenges and options that should be considered in attempting to improve regulation of reprogenetics in the U.S. Many of the articles provide a historical backdrop which helps the reader understand some of the issues already raised by this technology and the challenges, risks and benefits of improved regulation. The section on ethics is indicative of the greatest weakness of the text, imbalance of view. While titled "Ethical Issues in Reprogenetics," the ethics chapter includes only two articles. The first, by Suzanne Holland, is an argument in favor of an independent regulatory body for American reprogenetic technology. She sees this as the best available means to prevent the commodification of human beings. According to Holland, such commodification would undermine human flourishing. Timothy Caulfield's article clearly presents data supporting the lack of a social consensus in the U.S. on reproductive technologies, with the exception of reproductive cloning. He argues that a regulatory framework must reflect this and then concludes that a system like the HFEA would best suit our needs. Both of these articles argue for increased national regulation of reprogenetics. Holland's article discusses liberalism and a few of the papers in other parts of the text mention some of the many critics of substantial regulation of reprogenetics. However, these are all within articles in favor of regulation. For example, there is a discussion of arguments against substantial regulation, with some direct quotes, in the first paper in the text, "On Drawing Lessons from the History of Eugenics," by Diane Paul. But she characterizes their views as being supported by a simplistic view of the history of eugenics. (p.9) This does not provide a fair hearing of the anti-regulatory views. For a balanced collection of articles on the ethics, law and policy of regulating reprogenetics, the anti-regulation views should be represented by inclusion of articles by individuals who hold those views, not their critics. The chapter on ethics would be an appropriate spot for inclusion of such an article. This text is a useful addition to the library of anyone interested in reprogenetics and particularly the future of legislation and policy on research and application of reprogenetic technology. It is not a book about ethical issues in reprogenetics. Nor is it a balanced rendering of the issues regarding regulation in this area. However, it is extremely helpful in elucidating the historical and cultural twists and turns of American legislation and policy on this issue. It is written at the level of a college educated lay person. Reprogenetic technologies have conferred a responsibility which cannot be renounced. Their research and use have risks that go beyond safety concerns for the parties most immediately affected, the child, donor and gestator. How we handle this technology may affect the well-being of children, families and society as a whole. However, it is difficult to say whether the text offers the best solution when the only articles included are those that favor increased regulation. To paraphrase Knowles and Eric Parens while discussing the abortion battle obstacle in the last chapter, any regulatory framework for reprogenetics must be the result of open discussion amongst moderate representatives from all sides. (p. 283) While this book makes a substantial contribution to the process, it does not listen to its own advice and include all sides of the position.
© 2008 Constance K. Perry
Constance K. Perry, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Programs in Humanities and Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University |
