| Abstract: | This article attempts to encourage discussion and analysis of the policy implications of biomedical technology and proposes a framework for studying life and death issues arising out of this technology. It summarizes the status of research on a wide variety of specific policy areas, including those in human genetic inter-vention as well as the non-genetic biomedical issues at various life stages. It suggests that no set of issues has more serious implications for humanity and urges policy scientists to examine these technologies more fully. While the technical and ethical aspects of these issues are important, at the center of these con-cerns is the extent to which decision should be public–the degree to which the government should direct, limit, or facilitate applica-tion of the various technologies that affect life and death. This overview article concludes with a call for a PSJ symposium on this area of critical policy importance. |
