This is a textbook on bioethics with contributions from major writers in the field. The editors are professors at the University of Washington and have carried out pioneering research in ethics. Part 1 of the book takes the reader through the history of bioethics, explaining its emergence as a discipline. Part II examines the methods of ethical reasoning and developing justification of moral beliefs. Part III covers ethical concerns related to reproductive decisions such as abortion, prenatal genetic testing and assisted reproductive technologies.