Review by Choice Review
Van Dyck presents a well-researched and documented description of the status of public debate in the US and Great Britain about reproductive technology. In identifying five chronological stages of public debate, beginning with the birth of the first test tube baby in 1978, Van Dyck leads the reader through the discourse presented by medical scientists and feminists, who are the prime contenders in the debate about advances in and acceptance of reproductive technology. Science, journalism, and fiction are identified as the major elements that define the content and context of the public debate. In an effort to map this debate as it has evolved from controversy about reproductive technologies to general acceptance by the public, the author explores how arguments are posed and how facts are established. Power relationships, media maneuvers, technological strategies, and multiple interest groups are all examined for their influence on the methods and directions of the public debate on reproductive technology. Comprehensive list of notes and extensive bibliography. Upper-division undergraduate through professional. M. P. Tarbox; Mount Mercy College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
