Future Bioethics

Few areas of public policy have been fraught with as much controversy as bioethics. Each novel development in biomedical technology seems to spark rancorous disputes. Those averse to new technologies often express the concern that the new technology is "unnatural" or requires us to "play God." Slogans such as "Frankenfoods" and "sanctity of life" substitute for reasoned argument.

Future Bioethics is an ambitious book that seeks to reframe the debates surrounding current controversies in bioethics. Carefully examining and dissecting claims made by many policy makers and ethicists on topics such as assistance in dying, genetic engineering, and embryonic stem cell research, bioethicist Ronald A. Lindsay shows that all too often these claims are based on instinctive reactions, beliefs that lack factual support, and religious or ideological dogma.

After describing in detail the proper way to approach and resolve a dispute in bioethics, Lindsay proceeds to analyze several different cutting-edge issues. Through his insightful analysis, Lindsay demonstrates how to achieve pragmatic, progressive solutions to these controversies. An antidote for misguided thinking, Future Bioethics illuminates the way forward to bioethics policies appropriate for the twenty-first century.