Writing for nonexperts, Jonsen (ethics in medicine, emeritus, U. of Washington) offers a primer of the key concepts and debates of bioethics, including euthanasia, assisted reproduction, cloning and stem cells, neuroscience, access to health care, research on animals, and environmental ethics. To help place the increasing number of news articles about bioethical issues into a bigger context, he follows some of the field's ideas into public policy, medical practice, and the law. An appendix provides a brief précis of moral philosophy from Socrates to the current day. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)