How does the book club program actually work? 
Individuals can participate in the Women’s Bioethics Project Book Club
three ways: Read the books independently, thinking
about the questions
and the implications on their own. Rally a group of friends to read the
books and then discuss. Or simply insert these books into their regular
book club rotation, using the support materials to facilitate
discussion. 
How were the questions developed? The questions were developed by Women's Bioethics
Project advisory board member and bioethics researcher Sue Trinidad. They were tested and revised based on
feedback from book clubs around the country. The questions are arranged in three sections: Organ Transplantation/Donation, Genetics Testing/IVF, and “Designer
Babies.” They are designed to raise key ethical issues, provide
important information on the science, and help you get in touch with
your own moral compass. With a nod to the realities of many
women’s lives, we have written them in such a way that you can
participate in the discussion even if you haven’t read the books. How does this program differ from a typical book club discussion? We
provide book club support materials that go beyond just asking the
typical literary questions and topics (such as “what was the author
trying to communicate?”)
Instead, we foster discussion on bioethical issues by raising such
questions as “How does technology shape our society?,” “What does it
mean to be human?,” and “What
kind of future do we want to create?” We developed a set of 20 bioethical questions
for each book selected. They are designed to educate the reader on
ethical issues
as well as to provoke discussion. Then, most important, we tie these
questions to public policies that are currently
being considered and provide specific information on how to get
involved in the shaping of such legislation. The first policy we will
focus on, Human Germline Genetic
Modification (HGGM), is a perfect target because the issues surrounding
“designer
babies” have profound implications for women and their families and is
just now being considered by policymakers.
How will people find out about the program? We’re
doing a targeted outreach to influential journalists that may be
interested in covering the program. We will also post on our bioethics blogs
and send an e-newsletter to our community. However, just as book clubs
are formed organically among friends and expanded to include
acquaintances and work colleagues, we expect that most individuals will
find out about our book club program through word of mouth. Why are you doing a book club as opposed to just an education/awareness-raising campaign? We decided a book club program was a fun, creative, and cost-effective way to
encourage women to learn about these important issues. Many women are already
active in book clubs in this country—from the celebrity-driven Oprah Book Club to
the organic book clubs that begin with friends inviting friends to their house to chat
about a novel they have just read.
Our early research suggested that women are eager to discuss bioethical issues if
they are made relevant to their lives, if the discussion can take place in a way
that doesn’t impose on their already busy schedules, and if it allows them to go
beyond merely raising difficult questions to taking action on issues that are meaningful.
How did you choose the books for this program?
Our team of scholars looked for widely
accessible, beautifully written books that illuminate the implications of biotechnology. We
choose genetic engineering (often
referred to as “designer babies”) for the start of the series. The first book, My
Sister’s Keeper, looks at the impact of this technology on a single family. The second, Never Let Me Go, explores the impact this technology can have on a community.
And the third and final book, Oryx & Crake, explores its impact on an entire society.
Each book can stand on its own, or the books may be read in succession to build a
broader perspective on the real-life implications that biotechnology is already starting
to have on our society. Future advances will pose even more profound questions,
which society must be ready to address.
What current policy issues are you most focused on from a bioethical standpoint? Human
Germline Genetic Modification (HGGM) or the ability to create permanent
heritable genetic changes in offspring and future descendants is the
most central issue in our present campaign. We feel this technology has
the power to change society so dramatically that even though some
aspects of it are still somewhat theoretical, we must begin evaluating
and debating the potential impacts on our society now and getting
involved to draft legislation that will mitigate the most egregious
abuses of these technologies. What is the current policy status of HGGM? According to the Genetics and Public Policy Center, there is currently no legislative
ban on HGGM in the U.S. Many countries, including Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada,
Costa Rica, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands,
Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom have laws
banning the use of HGGM in most circumstances. Israel has established a moratorium
that will expire in 2007. Many other countries are considering legislation that would
ban HGGM. We expect this issue to be considered by Congress next year. What are some of the policy options book club readers will be encouraged to consider
regarding HGGM? The website will provide the information readers will need to come to their own
conclusions about what laws and regulations should look like. We’ll encourage readers
to learn more about the science and consider the pros and cons of banning, regulating,
or encouraging HGGM. Are you currently evaluating other books that delve into bioethical issues? Yes, and we are also planning to add movies, such as Gattaca, that raise critical bioethical issues in a powerful and engaging way.
