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A comprehensive introduction to the basic principles of bioethics and biolaw; this introduction will account for the concepts of legal personhood and moral agency, the relationship between law and ethics and the implementation of bioethics in biolaw.
A presentation of the international biolegal landscape; including specialised conventions and soft law instruments touching on bioethical issues (the UN, Council of Europe, relevant EU-law, World Health Organization as well as professional ethical guidelines and codes of conduct).
Specific topics such as
Biomedical research; the historical background of medical experimentation, the Nuremberg Code, the “Medical case” of the Nuremberg War Trials, autonomy, dignity, the EC directive on Good Clinical Practice
Embryonic Stem Cell Research; the legal and moral status of the pre-embryo, the ethical case for and against stem cell research, the international legal framework, restrictions on EU research funding, issues relating to import and export of stem cell lines, scientific freedom, the right to health, examples of national regulatory frameworks
Cloning; reproductive and therapeutic cloning, the Council of Europe’s Additional Protocol on the Prohibition of Cloning Human Beings, the UN Declaration on Human Cloning
Abortion; the legal and moral status of the foetus, the ethical case for and against abortion, human rights aspects (CEDAW Convention, ECHR case-law, Roe v. Wade), foetal reduction, sex selection, foetal diagnostics, wrongful life claims, examples of national regulatory frameworks
Assisted Reproductive Technologies; donation of gametes, anonymity, surrogacy, ectogenesis, destruction of surplus embryos, PGD
“Reproductive tourism”: moral forum shopping and free movement within the EU
Chimera, hybrids and cybrids; concepts of human and animal, the regulatory distinction between species and legal challenges arising from new techniques that blur this distinction.
Euthanasia; end of life decisions, autonomy or sanctity of life, The Human Rights Committee’s review of the Dutch euthanasia law
Genetic testing; discrimination in healthcare, employment and insurance, confidentiality issues, sharing genetic test information with family members, implications for people with disabilities, Council of Europe recommendations
Conscientious objections; freedom of thought, conscience and religion vs. the right to health
Other contemporary issues |