Bioethics. A philosophical introduction

This is a comprehensive study of some of the most important themes of our times. Stephen Holland guides the reader from the more familiar debates on euthanasia, advance directives and reproductive technologies such as IVF, through to the philosophical implications of developments in genetics such as prenatal genetic therapy, genetic enhancement and human cloning.The book is built around four important themes. Firstly, the nature of moral status: do human embryos have moral status? Do animals? What are the implications for bioethics of the moral status of such creatures? The second theme is that of life, death and killing, and looks at the ethics of ending human life or of failing to lengthen it as long as possible. Thirdly, Holland explores the question of personal identity, and finally, he presents and develops a version of the "argument from nature", which continues to be influential in bioethics in order to try to make sense of the objection that some biomedical innovations are "unnatural".
Contents: PART ONE: MORAL STATUS Introduction to part one Chapter 1: Persons and potential persons Chapter 2: Non-persons Part one concluding remarks PART TWO: LIFE, DEATH AND KILLING Introduction to part two Chapter 3: The value of life Chapter 4: What is death? Chapter 5: Killing versus letting die Part two concluding remarks PART THREE: PERSONAL IDENTITY Introduction to part three Chapter 6: Prenatal genetic intervention Chapter 7: Advance directives Part three concluding remarks PART FOUR: THE NORMATIVITY OF THE NATURAL Introduction to part four Chapter 8: Managing reproduction Chapter 9: Genetic enhancement Chapter 10: Human cloning Part four concluding remarks CONCLUDING REMARK: DEONTIC CONTRAINTS ON BIOMEDICINE