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| Genre: Legal Fiction Publisher: Waterbrook Press Released: May 20, 2003 421 pages |
When Dr. Nathan Brown and his wife, Cameron, undergo a controversial method of in vitro fertilization, some of their cloned embryos are used to achieve a pregnancy in surrogate Maryna Sareth while the others are cryogenically preserved. Dr. Brown's premature death, however, and mounting evidence that the baby has Down's Syndrome unleash a legal, ethical, and moral firestorm.
Dr. Brown's dying wish is that the remaining embryos be used for stem-cell research. His wife wants to force the abortion of the baby Maryna carries in hopes that one of the remaining embryos can produce a "healthy" child.
Meanwhile, Mitchell wrestles with an agonizing ethical dilemma: Can he protect the embryos, which requires that a federal legislative ban on cloning be overturned, while at the same time helping the beautiful young surrogate save the child she carries - possible only if the ban is upheld?
With time running out, Mitchell and Maryna must run the gauntlet of bioethical nightmares, corporate treachery, and life-threatening confrontations if they are to save the unborn and avoid irreparable harm.