This book brings together an unusually broad range of experts from reproductive medicine, medical ethics and law to address the important ethical problems in maternal-fetal medicine which impact directly on clinical practice. The book is divided into parts by the stages of pregnancy, within which the authors cover four main areas:the balance of power in the doctor-patient relationship and the justifiable limits of paternalism and autonomythe impact of new technologies and new diseasesdisability and enhancement (the 'designer baby')difference - to what extent should the clinician respect the tenets of other faiths in a multicultural society, even when the doctor believes requested interventions or non-interventions to be morally wrong?The aim throughout is to unite analytic philosophy and actual practice. This is an important text not only for clinicians involved in human reproduction, but also philosophers and lawyers.

‘Donna Dickenson has written a skillful overview … a valuable contribution to a continuing discussion.’

Source: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine

‘… an important new text, not only for clinicians working in the field of human reproduction, but also for philosophers, ethicists and lawyers. Each chapter provides a thought-provoking essay on a contemporary issue relating to reproductive medicine that could well constitute the course work of a medical ethics major.’

Source: Journal of Paediatric Child Health

‘Some useful insights into this increasingly important area of our clinical practice can be gained from this book … This book would be a useful addition to your obstetric and gynaecology department’s library. Subspecialists in maternal-fetal medicine and reproductive medicine would find the content of particular interest and should steer their trainees in this book’s direction.’

Source: The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist