Allen Buchanan, Dan W Brock, Norman Daniels, and Daniel Wikler
Cambridge University Press,
£17.95
ISBN 0 521 66001 7
Rating: 3/4

The Human Genome Project has the potential to be the most revolution. ary development in medical research and practice. But it also has its hazards. From the late 19th to early 20th centuries, countries such as the United States, England, and Germany attempted to use genetic information to improve society by enforcing eugenic policies. These included such abuses as forced sterilisation, abortion, and murder of individuals based on racial and class purity. The "old genetics" focused on exclusion and subjective notions of normality. The proponents of the "new genetics" maintain that the language associated with the project is that of inclusion and objective notions of disease. It is difficult to be sure that we will not repeat the same mistakes.

From Chance to Choice: Genetics and Justice brings together top minds in the field of bioethics to tackle some of the biggest problems facing society. They deal with topics such as reproductive freedom, the meaning of disability, and the requirement to prevent harm. The discussion sets the ethical issues in the context of society's obligation to justice and fairness. The authors believe that genetic technology has the potential to provide those who have fared poorly in the genetic lottery with a level playing field in which fair equality of opportunity can be an obtainable goal.

One puzzling aspect of the work lies in the authors' apparent failure to meet their goal of trying to explain basic moral principles that could guide public policy and individual choice concerning genetic interventions. Instead, the authors try to solve ethical issues by combining considered beliefs, principles, and background theories. The analysis is rich and goes beyond the application of simple principles to bioethical problems.

Although the authors are all noted professors of philosophy, they do a fantastic job of developing a sophisticated account examining ethical issues associated with genetic technology without getting bogged down in ethical theory and terminology.