Book

As my gov docs prof pointed out, changes in presidential administrations can lead to the disappearance of such documents from the White House web site, so this might be worth getting in paper...

President's Council on Bioethics. Human cloning and human dignity: the report of the President's Council on Bioethics. PublicAffairs, 2002. 350p ISBN 1-586-48176-2 pbk, $14.00

Choice: "As might be expected from a politically appointed group, the full range of positions on these controversial topics is not represented...Critics will also point to the underrepresentation of professional bioethicists on the council...These caveats duly noted, it must be acknowledged that the council is made up of a distinguished group of thinkers...The report provides clearly articulated arguments for divergent ethical positions and policy choices...Recommended." First Things: “The Report enables us to understand all that is at stake in the advent of asexual reproduction…offers a vindication of the element of chance in human life…profound…carefully delineates both the majority and the minority views…invaluable…” Library Journal: “Although the prepublication version of this report is available on the web, the reasonably priced paper copy fairly represents the many opinions and complexities related to human cloning, making it a worthy purchase for convenience and archival stability. Highly recommended for all libraries.” Policy Review: “an enlightened and enlightening document…a model of liberal inquiry in the service of the public interest…clarifies the human significance of the questions raised by, and the clash of goods implicated in, the awesome new powers scientists have developed to create human life.” Dialog: “The report added few novel insights to the cloning and stem cell debates. Nevertheless, it is commendable on at least two accounts. First, it is evenhanded in its assessment of cloning—considerably less partisan than one might imagine…The report is also commendable for its thoughtfulness. It is characterized by nuance, textured by careful deliberation…As commendable as it may be, however, the report ultimately dissatisfies…We find the [majority] argumentation to be tendetitious and superficial.”