Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This important book describes the medical, ethical and legal aspects of reproduction in the context of recent medical advances - areas covered include the legal aspects of marriage and sexual intercourse, the control of fertility and the modern treatment of childlessness due to both male and female abnormality. Legal and moral issues arising from surrogacy are also discussed, as are the rights of the fetus - with particular attention being given to abortion, injury and treatment in utero and experimentation. Medico-legal aspects of parenting include the dilemmas consequent upon the birth of a defective child and the provision of treatment for children. A final section considers the problem of child abuse.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Sex and marriage
• Sexual intercourse
• Contraception
• Sterilization
• Abortion
• Protection of the fetus
• Fetal experimentation
• The infertile man
• The infertile women
• A third party to marriage
• Defective neonates and infants
• Consent to treatment and research in children
• The protection of young children
• The killing of children within the family
• Index

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Mason (University of Edinburgh) offers a manual on the uncertain area of reproductive law. Although this study focuses on Britain, it also draws on the law and practices of the US and the Commonwealth for clarification and suggested alternative solutions. Ambitious in scope, the volume begins with a discussion of sex and marriage and ends with a chapter on child abuse. Between these issues Mason includes chapters on contraception, abortion, fetal rights, infertility, experimentation, and infanticide. The book has two main strengths. First, this holistic approach enables Mason to show that these issues are so interconnected that policy decisions in one area affect those in other areas as well. Second, although writing in a rapidly changing field, the author offers a surprisingly up-to-date survey. There are, however, two disappointments. First, rather than drawing more heavily on his experiences and insights as a physician, Mason leans instead toward a legalistic approach. Second, the book is limited by its exploration of reproduction within the confines of the traditional family. A list of cases and a table of statutes are included. Appropriate for graduate school collections. -S. Behuniak-Long, Le Moyne College