Coping with Methuselah : The Impact of Molecular Biology on Medicine and Society

Many medical authorities predict that average life expectancy could well exceed 100 years by mid 21st century and rise even higher soon thereafter. This prospect, brought on by the revolution in molecular biology and information technology, confronts policymakers and public health officials with a host of new questions: how will increased longevity affect demographic trends, government taxation and spending, the workplace and health care? What ethical and quality-of-life issues are raised by these new breakthroughs?