Rethinking Reprogenetics
Enhancing Ethical Analyses of Reprogenetic Technologies
Inmaculada de Melo-Martin
Reviews and Awards
"In my opinion, the combination of [the] different perspectives offered by [Inmaculada de Melo-Martin] results in a more enriching analysis for the reader, since it puts on the table an ethical discussion of tensions in the applications and use of reprogenetics, while revealing the absence of the gender vision that reprogenetics advocates. These crossfertilizations between ethics, feminist theory, and science, technology, and society studies bring to light problems that are obscured by androcentric and technoptimistic visions of reprogenetics, especially given their dominance." -- Natalia Fernández-Jimeno, Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics
"Enthusiasts about emerging reprogenetic technologies tend to dismiss critics as irrational, religious, or reactionary. In this bold new book, Inmaculada de Melo-Martin offers a rational, secular, and progressive critique of reprogenetic enthusiasm. In particular, she argues for an approach that takes women's experience seriously, that takes the value-ladenness of technologies seriously, and that questions the assumption that more technological choices mean more genuine flourishing." - Erik Parens, The Hastings Center
"This is a book I have long been wishing for, a book that directly confronts the "enthusiasts" (especially Julian Savulescu and John Harris) regarding reproductive genetic technologies and offers a sober, nuanced response, one that highlights important gendered and societal aspects of the debate" -- Sara Goering, Hypatia Reviews Online
"De Melo-Martin's philosophically acute and scientifically literate account of the ethics of the new reproductive technologies returns the interests of woman to the center of the debate about the future of reproduction where they belong. I cannot recommend it highly enough." - Robert Sparrow, Professor, Philosophy Program and Centre for Human Bioethics, Monash University
"With confidence, insight and aplomb, de Melo-Martin takes on 'the good old boys' of repropgenetics. Not the scientists developing innovative technologies, but their cheerleaders - men who enthusiastically and uncritically endorse everything reprogenetic. Along the way, she reminds us of the need to pay particular attention to the social context in which reprogenetic technologies are developed and implemented."-Francoise Baylis, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Bioethics and Philosophy, Dalhousie University
"The point is not that there clearly are other problems that deserve more attention, but that such questions need to be raised and addressed. Why this is so important and how it can be done de Melo-Martin brilliantly demonstrates in Rethinking Reprogenetics. It is a compelling read, written in a very clear and accessible style, and without doubt a very welcome, insightful addition to the debate." - Hastings Center Report
"Rethinking Reprogenetics by Immaculada de Melo-Martin has at its heart a desire to spark discussion about the foundations of our right to reproduce. While many of the arguments are familiar in feminist ethics, de Melo-Martin's text is a useful addition in that she is focusing on the development and application of genetic techonology towards reproductive ends." -- Constance K. Perry, International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics
