Battaglia, Frederick C.

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The Linacre QuarterlyVolume 42 | Number 4 Article 1111-1-1975[Book Review of ] The Ethics of Fetal Research, ByPaul RamseyFrederick C. BattagliaFollow this and additional works at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnqPart of the Ethics and Political Philosophy Commons, and the Medicine and Health SciencesCommonsRecommended CitationBattaglia, Frederick C. (1975) "[Book Review of] The Ethics of Fetal Research, By Paul Ramsey," The Linacre Quarterly: Vol. 42: No. 4,Article 11.Available at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq/vol42/iss4/11step toward emotional adjust-ment to their loss. Through the funeral, mourners can accept the reality of death; they can me-morialize the person they love; they have a vehicle to express their grief, thus easing the bur-den; they receive solace and con-solation from their friends and relatives; they are given hope through a religious liturgy. Some would have us believe that the funeral director invented the funeral. Actually, the funeral has existed since the beginning of Book Review recorded history. In a world of constant change and sophisticat-ed scientific advancements, noth-ing endures long that has little value. * * * * The author acknowledges with gratitude the assistance of Frank Miller, Ph.D., Executive Secre-tary, National Selected Morti-cians; Howard C. Raether, J.D., Executive Director, National Fu-neral Directors Association; and his wife, Betty Murphy. The Ethics of Fetal Research By Paul Ramsey New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 7975. This recent publication by Paul Ramsey is an excellent accom-plishment and is essential reading for obstetricians, pediatricians, and others involved in decisions in perinatal medicine. I am amazed that Dr. Ramsey has been able to review in such a concise way the many aspects of research upon the living human fetus. The book is well organized and pre-sents the questions Dr. Ramsey poses in a rational and clearly un-derstandable man n e r and at-tempts to provide some guidelines for resolution. The first chapter offers a con-cise description of the background history and the current guidelines that have been proposed in this country and abroad. Early in the November, 1975 book, an essential distinction is made between the ethics of re-search on the living human fetus and the question of the morality of abortion. In addition, there is a discussion of the analogies be-tween the ethical problems posed by attempting research upon the living human fetus and research upon the condemned, the dying, and the unconscious patient. The last chapter in the book, on "Who Consents of Fetal Research?", is particularly good in outlining the dilemma of "proxy consent." It offers a useful discussion of the many ways in which consent could be obtained for the previa-ble, living human fetus to partici-pate in research. There are some other issues 285 that I think could have been am-plified or introduced into the dis-cussion in the book. For example, if parents have no moral right to give consent for research which is not directly to the fetus' or child's benefit - because they cannot presume to impose their morality upon the child; that is, they can-not assume that the fetus or child, if an adult, would consent as they might consent - then there are similar limitations upon the par-ents' right to refuse specific ther-apy to the fetus or child, based upon their own religious beliefs. The issue of "proxy consent" by parents for non-therapeutic, non-diagnostic research upon their off-spring is a difficult one and seems to me to be at the heart of the difference between the position of some other theologians and Ram-sey. If parents can say yes to those medical procedures which are "therapeutic" - that is, the procedures are directed at im-proving the growth and develop-ment of the child, a form of "bio-logic good" - can the parents then say yes to those actions which they believe enable the child to participate in his or her "moral good?" Within the Chris-tian tradition, is there in fact any good that is derived by anyone at any age participating in a positive action which is non-willful or non-conscious on the part of the par-ticipant? His discussion of the dangers of such reasoning is per-haps the least settled and con-286 vincing of the many issues he raises. Finally, there might be some place for a discussion of the ethi-cal obligation of the scientist to insure the quality of his research, even when the actions being car-ried out on the consenting pa-tients are proper and without risk. This question of quality should be raised quite apart from review committees, peer groups, etc. These groups mayor may not- be effective. Insofar as our primary concern is the moral obligation of the scientist, the effectiveness of such groups is irrelevant. Where does the search for quality stop? How definitive must answers to certain questions be before pro-tocols are carried out upon pa-tients? These questions by no means detract from the value of the book. Dr. Ramsey has written with thoughtfulness and clarity. I urge all physicians and other health professionals involved in perinatal medicine to read this book. It is "must reading" for them, and certainly for all who particip ate in decision-making about hum a n experimentation which involves the fetus and mother. Reviewed by: Frederick C. Battaglia, M.D. Professor and Chairman Department of Pediatrics University of Colorado Linacre Quarterly 

[Book Review of] \u3cem\u3eThe Ethics of Fetal Research\u3c/em\u3e, By Paul Ramsey

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[Book Review of] \u3cem\u3eThe Ethics of Fetal Research\u3c/em\u3e, By Paul Ramsey

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