Surrogacy arrangements are complex and can involve a range of social, emotional, medical, financial and legal issues. Within Australia, only altruistic surrogacy is allowed, however Australians are increasingly accessing compensated surrogacy arrangements overseas in places such as Thailand, India and the US. State-based laws in Australia prohibiting commercial surrogacy do not appear to deter most people from the considerable expense and risk incurred in accessing it internationally. This book explains altruistic surrogacy and the law in Australia, and explores a range of concerns raised in response to the growing international commercial surrogacy industry. Should commercial surrogacy be legalised, and in the process better regulated? What are the rights of the surrogate mother and the child?
bortion rights address the circumstances under which a woman may obtain a legal abortion in a specific jurisdiction. It is a divisive issue as the rights debate frequently raises ethical and practical discussions in relation to the law, morality, science, medicine, sexuality, autonomy, religion and politics. This book considers the options that are presented with an unplanned pregnancy, and how these options relate to a number of ethical concerns and legal safeguards internationally, and more specifically, in Australia. What are the various 'pro-life' and 'pro-choice' arguments in response to the availability and timing of surgical and non-surgical abortion, the health and circumstances of the expectant mother, fetal abnormalities, the status of the fetus, and the conscientious objections of medical practitioners? Whose rights should prevail?
Each cell in the human body contains about 20,000 genes. Genes carry the information that determines the traits that are passed on to you, or inherited, from your parents. Genes are the instructions for the growth and development of our bodies, however mutations in a person's genome can result in a genetic condition or disease. How do the building blocks of the human body - DNA, genes and chromosomes - interrelate and interact with the environment, and contribute to a range of serious diseases? What are the dilemmas, risks and regulations associated with genetic testing and its related privacy and discrimination issues, the corporate patenting of people's genes, and the growing prospects of human genetic enhancement? What are the ethical implications of gene therapies and emerging biotechnology techniques like gene editing (CRISPR) in the manipulation of the human genome, such as the recent controversial development of three-parent babies? In this new era of personalised medicine are we as a species, going too far, or are we on a promising path to curing many deadly diseases? Does this all amount to scientific progress, or are we playing God with our own genes?
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a group of procedures used to assist people in achieving a pregnancy. Recent advancements in the use and availability of ART treatments such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), gamete donation and surrogacy have raised numerous ethical considerations. This book explores reproductive concerns and opposing opinions on a range of issues including: the use of IVF by older women; success rate claims of commercial clinics; access by IVF offspring to the identities of their donors; the fate of excess frozen embryos; public funding of IVF; payment for egg donation; 'social egg freezing' by younger career women delaying motherhood; the dilemmas of preimplantation genetic screening; sex selection; the collection of gametes and embryos from deceased loved ones; mitochondrial donation and 'three-parent IVF'; and commercial surrogacy arrangements. Are existing guidelines and laws in Australia in step with the many ways we can now reproduce ourselves? Or are we going too far in dictating the terms of human fertility?
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been quietly evolving from futuristic sci-fi movie plots and into the factual present day. Put simply, AI is a computer system that can do tasks that humans need intelligence to do. AI is already transforming the way we live, work, communicate and travel. From the development of driverless cars, to the machine learning and algorithms that power our mobile phones, voice-activated assistants and the internet of things, we are already co-existing and engaging with AI-enabled technology. However, along with the potential to improve our quality of life, AI risks compromising basic human rights and freedoms. We all need to better understand how AI is being developed, used and regulated as it becomes more embedded and empowered in the world around us. What is artificial intelligence, how does it work, and what are the benefits and ethical concerns? The robot revolution is happening right now - how much do you really know about the impacts of AI on your everyday life?
he topic of euthanasia has a long and controversial history of impassioned political and community debate in Australia, often appearing to raise more questions than answers. Recently, however, Victoria and Western Australia passed voluntary euthanasia legislation granting eligible people with a terminally ill condition and experiencing intolerable suffering legal access to assisted dying services. Each state has specified a wide range of safeguards for patients and health practitioners, but questions will continue to be asked about voluntary assisted dying, above and beyond people's personal approval or opposition to it. In the meantime, other jurisdictions in Australia are also exploring the legalisation of some form of assisted death. This title looks at this complex topic through the lens of the latest legal developments. Issues explored and debated include the role of medical practitioners, medical treatment decision-making and end of life choices, religious and ethical approaches to dying, and the value of death itself. What, in fact, is the difference between assisted dying and euthanasia? Can palliative care always provide adequate pain relief? What are the many ethical, religious, medical, legal and practical considerations? In certain circumstances, should we ever have a legal right to die?
Recent advances in technology have revolutionised how we all connect and communicate - so what does the future of transport look like? Transport is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, a country with a heavy reliance on fossil-fuelled cars and road freight. Technology in the transport sector is undergoing rapid change, bringing with it opportunities to improve safety, accessibility, efficiency and sustainability. Important transport developments include automation, connectivity, smart infrastructure, the sharing economy and a move towards zero emission vehicles. A number of emerging innovations are examined in this book, including public transport (trackless trams, high-speed rail), Mobility as a Service and ride sharing, micromobility vehicles such as e-bikes and scooters, electric aircraft development, and alternative fuelled, self-driving and flying vehicles. Why does Australia still have the handbrake on the slow uptake of electric vehicles? Are autonomous and flying cars a bright new dawn, or simply science fiction? This book explores the viability of future modes of transport, with a focus on the transition to electric, hydrogen-powered and autonomous vehicles. Is Australia keeping up with the next transport revolution, or are we on the road to nowhere?