Questions about artificial reproduction?

Following the successful birth of the world’s first IVF baby in July 1978, Louise Brown, the artificial-reproductive market witnessed the entry of various high-tech protocols to help infertile couples achieve conception without recourse to normal sexual intercourse. Although many people welcome these technologies because of their pragmatic use in resolving infertility, some questions necessarily arise:

• Is something ethically acceptable simply because it is technically possible?

• If a procedure resolves problems, does that make it ethical?

• Does the end justify the means?

In this enlarged edition of his first book, Paschal Nwaezeapu makes a holistic presentation of artificial-reproductive technologies (ART). Beginning with the biology of human procreation, he proceeds to critically examine the ethics of ART. The book then provides clear insight into the positions of some major religions on ART, and goes on to make useful suggestions to help resolve the problems raised in this study.

Despite the complexity of the issues, Nwaezeapu presents the topic luminously, clearly, and in an easy-to-follow format. This well-researched book will serve as strong resource material for university lecturers, scholars, policy makers, educators, medical practitioners, students of philosophy, bioethics and moral theology, as well as couples and marriage counsellors.

A must read for anyone seeking insight into the dilemma of infertility.

"By embarking on this work, the author has dared the champions of today’s neo-capitalist, consumerist and postmodern ideologies, whose criticisms are often uncharitable to works of this nature. Whatever the kind of criticism that will trail this work, one factual assessment is that critics will hardly be able to sustain their argument publicly, because this work is unbeatable in its objectivity, rich in facts and figures and sound logic, even as it minimizes appeal to apologetics."

Anthony Okeregbe, Ph.D., University of Lagos, Nigeria

"This book by Paschal Nwaezeapu comes highly recommended as a useful guide and indicator for all those who must deal with the joys and sorrows, failures and successes that characterize the experiences of marriage and family life today, including parents, children, educators, students and makers and drivers of policies for societal life."

Rev. Fr. Sylvester C. Nwutu, Ph.D., Catholic Major Seminary, Ibadan, Nigeria