Ethics in Reproductive and Perinatal Medicine: A

Advancesinreproductiveandperinatalmedicinehavegivenrisetodifficultethicalissues.Doallwomenhavethefighttochoosewhethertoreproduce?Whatisthemoralstatusofthefetusduringvariousstagesofgestationandwhatobligationsdoparentshavetothefetusduringthisperiod?InthisbookCarsonStrongdevelopsanethicalframeworkthathelpsresolvetheseandmanyotherissuesofvitalconcerntohealthprofessionals，policymakers，andthegeneralpublic.Strongbeginsbyexploringthesignificanceofreproductivefreedom，drawingonconstitutionallawandfeministwritings，amongothersources.Nextheassessesthemoralstatusofoffspringduringpreembryonic，embryonic，fetal，andpostnatalstagesofdevelopment，discussingtheobligationsofprocreatorsduringgestation，andofferinganewperspectiveontheideathatthemoralstandingofthefetusincreasesasfetaldevelopmentproceeds.Hethensuggestsanapproachtothequestionofhowprioritiesshouldbeassignedtoconflictingvalues，onethatdrawsonaversionofcasuisticreasoning.Inthesecondhalfofthebook，Strongappliesthisethicalframeworktosomeoftheproblematicareasinreproductiveandperinatalmedicine.Theseincludeprenatalgenetictestingforsusceptibilitiestocommondiseasesandfor"enhancement"ofoffspring;researchusingpreembryosandembryos;nontraditionalfamilyarrangements，suchassurrogatemotherhoodandovumdonationforolderwomen;andtreatmentoffetuseswithanomalies.Hisdiscussiontakesintoaccounttheclinicaldimensionsofissuesandreflectsathoroughconsiderationoftheethical，legal，medical，andpsychosocialliterature.