Law and the Human Body: Property Rights, Ownership and Control

ISBN-13: 9781841139777 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 242 str.

Rohan J. Hardcastle

Opis

Do you own your body? Advances in science and the development of genetic databases have added an aura of modern controversy to this long-standing and, as yet, unresolved problem. In particular, English law governing separated human tissue - including organs, DNA, and cell-lines - is unsatisfactory. Despite the enactment of the Human Tissue Act 2004 UK, it remains uncertain what property rights living persons can claim over tissue separated from their bodies. The development of clear legal principles is necessary to protect the rights of individuals while also enabling the efficient use of such materials in medical research. Part I of Law and the Human Body traces the evolution of English, US, Canadian, and Australian law in relation to human tissue separated from living persons and dead bodies. This includes a comprehensive examination of the Human Tissue Act 2004 UK, as well as prominent judicial decisions, including Re Organ Retention Group Litigation 2005] QB 50, Colavito v New York Organ Donor Network Inc 8 NY 3d 43 (NY CA 2006), and Washington University v Catalona 437 F Supp 2d 985 (USDC Ed Mo 2006). Analysis demonstrates that, although property rights and non-proprietary interests in separated human tissue are recognized in limited circumstances, no principled basis has been accepted either by common law or by statute for the recognition of these rights and interests. Part II of the book therefore develops and defends a principled basis in English law for the creation and legal recognition of property rights and non-proprietary interests in separated human tissue. Significantly, the analysis and principles presented in Law and the Human Body have application across common law and civil law jurisdictions worldwide.