Ethics and Economics of Assisted Reproduction

Maura A. Ryan is associate provost at the University of Notre Dame and coeditor of The Challenge of Global Stewardship: Roman Catholic Responses.

An excellent book that makes significant contributions to the diverse fields of ethical theory and public policy analysis. Ryan displays a sophisticated understanding of feminist theory, medical ethics, and Catholic social teaching on economic justice... Well worth the attention of ethicists, medical practitioners, lawyers, and clergy engaged in formulating responses to involuntary human infertility. Medical Humanities Review Ryan (Christian ethics, U. of Notre Dame) questions the current reality of assisted reproductive technologies in the context of a consumerist society. She argues that the ethics of reproductive technologies needs to take into account both feminist criticisms of control over women's bodies and Catholic calls for a greater social good. Arguing that assisted reproduction should be seen as a social need rather than individualist consumption, she looks at the technologies as it is situated in the health care system as a whole and attempts to articulate an ethics that takes into account spiritual faith. Book News, Inc. Ryan (Christian ethics, Univ. of Notre Dame) discusses reproductive technology within the context of the common good, social justice, and ethical reasoning. She draws from a background of Catholic moral theology, medical ethics, feminism, and personal experience with infertility. Several well-written books are available regarding the ethics of assisted reproduction and reproductive technology; Ryan adds a dimension to the debate-how ethics and economics of assisted reproduction intersect. She begins by exploring the myths and realities of the economics of infertility including whether reproduction and its costs are truly private issues. Chapter 2 reviews the ethical issues surrounding assisted reproduction; chapter 3 focuses on the goals of medicine as it relates to infertility and the relief of suffering. The fourth chapter rethinks the limits of procreative liberty within a framework of the common good, and chapter 5 returns to the concept of justice and access to reproductive services and proposes a framework for determining equitable access given limited resources. The final chapter reflects on infertility as a spiritual crisis. Well documented and indexed. Graduate students through professionals. Choice

• Preface Introduction 1. The Economics of Infertility Myths and Realities in the Economics of InfertilityIntersection: Ethics and EconomicsDistributive Justice and Assisted Reproduction 2. The Ethics of Assisted Reproduction The Ethics of Assisted ReproductionWhat about Adoption?Reproduction and the Common Good 3. Assisted Reproduction and the Goals of Medicine Infertility, Suffering, and the Goals of MedicineLiving with InfertilityInside/Outside: The Medical Construction of InfertilitySome Preliminary ConclusionsReflecting on the Goals of Medicine 4. Reconceiving Procreative Liberty John Robertson and the Meaning of Procreative LibertyRights Talk and the Critique of Procreative Liberty, American-StyleBorder TensionsProcreative Liberty and Catholic Social TeachingConclusion 5. Assisted Reproduction and Access to Health Care Human Dignity and Access to Health CareA Decent MinimumSufficiencyInvestments in ReproducingEquity and AccessAt the BoundariesSetting Limits Conclusion6. Faith and Infertility Mixed Messages and Missed OpportunitiesCreating a ContextFrom Spiritual Crisis to Spiritual QuestConclusions and the Work Yet to Be Done Conclusion Index