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Ethical Aspects of Reproductive Medicine

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Andrology

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Abstract

As an intellectual discipline, medicine is not an isolated or self-sufficient science. Medical research is not imprisoned in the ivory tower of scholars. Rather, within enlightened democratic society there is a public interest in all matters touching upon the responsible handling of human life over which, thanks to medical research, mankind has been given increasing control. Critical and constructive solidarity with all potentially affected persons is called for which lays the foundation for consentual standards; effective laws do not arise from unconcerted efforts by the legislators, but reflect the intellectual responsibility of the whole community. For the scientist this provides welcome relief. Serious decisions that have farreaching consequences in shaping the lives of others must not be made by the scientist in the solitude of his conscience for which he bears sole responsibility, even though obvious tensions between the private and public spheres will never be fully resolved.

Translated by T. Kopfensteiner and S. Nieschlag

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Authors
  1. K. Demmer
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Reproductive Medicine of the University, Domagkstr. 11, D-48129, Münster, Germany

    Eberhard Nieschlag

  2. Andrology Unit, Department of Urology of the University, Magdeburger Str. 16, D-06097, Halle, Germany

    Hermann M. Behre

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Demmer, K. (2001). Ethical Aspects of Reproductive Medicine. In: Nieschlag, E., Behre, H.M. (eds) Andrology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04491-9_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04491-9_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-04493-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-04491-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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