Genetics and the Law II

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

   PDF

2. Government Control of Science

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Three Specters

      • Bernard D. Davis

      Pages 3-8

   3. Research and Regulation

      • DeWitt Stetten Jr.

      Pages 9-17

   4. Ethical Issues in the Control of Science

      • Daniel Callahan

      Pages 19-27

   5. The Scientist’s Right to Research and the Legitimacy of Governmental Regulation

      • John A. Robertson

      Pages 29-40

   6. Public Control of Genetic Research

      • Seymour Lederberg

      Pages 41-50

   7. On Mandating Diagnostic Practices

      • Stanley Joel Reiser

      Pages 51-57

3. Genetic Counseling and Screening

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 59-59

      PDF

   2. Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis and the Law

      • Aubrey Milunsky

      Pages 61-68

   3. The Legal Obligations of Genetic Counselors

      • Joseph M. Healey Jr.

      Pages 69-79

   4. The Continuing Wrong of “Wrongful Life”

      • Alexander Morgan Capron

      Pages 81-96

   5. The Law and Operation of Genetic Screening Programs

      • Y. Edward Hsia

      Pages 97-119

   6. Disclosure and Consent

      • Jay Katz

      Pages 121-130

   7. Knowledge, Risk, and the Right to Reproduce

      • Joseph F. Fletcher

      Pages 131-137

4. Ethics, Eugenics, Law, and Society

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 139-139

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   2. Euthanasia Decisions in the Courts

      • Charles H. Baron

      Pages 141-152

   3. Doctors, Decisions, and the Law

      • Arnold S. Relman

      Pages 153-157

   4. Conversation with Silent Patients

      • Robert A. Burt

      Pages 159-179

   5. Prolonging Living and Prolonging Dying

      • Robert M. Veatch

      Pages 181-186

The law is a mandate and a mirror; it both commands and reflects. It should not come as a shock that scientists and physicians often prefer the mirror at times when society seems to be demanding a mandate. This may be especially true in the rapidly advancing field of medical genetics, where recent discoveries leading to potentially startling applications have raised old questions of law in a new light. Nevertheless, we believe that in general the conflict between the law and science, as illustrated in the field of genetics, is embroi­ dered with exaggeration. The Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Warren Burger, has noted that "the prime function of the law is to protect basic human values--individual human values--sometimes even at the expense of scientific progress"; and that "it is not the function of the law to keep pace with science." While both of these statements are true as far as they go, we believe the law must make an affirmative effort to anticipate scientific developments so that those beneficial to society can be nurtured rather than stultified. It was to nurture cooperation and understanding that we brought together a distinguished faculty of internationally known experts on law and genetics to discuss their fields in 1975.

• Chromosom
• chromosome
• environment
• ethics
• genetic research
• genetics
• sex
• society

• Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

  Aubrey Milunsky

• Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA

  Aubrey Milunsky

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, Walthalm, USA

  Aubrey Milunsky

• School of Law, Boston University, Boston, USA

  George J. Annas

• School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, USA

  George J. Annas

• School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, USA

  George J. Annas

Policies and ethics