The Nexus of Law and Biology: New Ethical Challenges

Subjects:

Medical Law, Environmental Law

Contents:

Foreword, Michael Kirby

Preface, Barbara Ann Hocking and Joseph Henry Vogel

The perils of terminology and the 'saviour sibling' dilemma, Barbara Ann Hocking and Eva Ryrstedt

I sing of arms and the doctor: what role for law when medicine is called to war?, Piero P. Giorgi, Scott Guy and Barbara Ann Hocking

Indigenous peoples and genetic population research: reflections on a culturally appropriate model of indigenous participant consent, Helena Kajlich

The SARS epidemic in Hong Kong 2003: interplay of law, medicine and ethics, Edwin Hui

A proposal based on 'the tragedy of the commons': a museum of bioprospecting, intellectual property rights, and the public domain, Joseph Henry Vogel

Law, ethics and wildlife disease: an Australian perspective, Hamish McCallum

Environmental risk, environmental liability and the regulation of biotechnology: mediating law and biology?, Christopher Rodgers

Legitimising regulatory decision making about genetically modified organisms under the Gene Technology Act 2000 (Cth), Charles Lawson and Richard Hindmarsh

The Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights: bioethics, a civilising Utopia in the age of globalisation?, Christian Byk

Conclusion: shuffling the law and biology iPOD, Barbara Ann Hocking and Joseph Henry Vogel

Index.

Although law and science have interacted for centuries, their interactions today pose enormous challenges, reflected in issues ranging from reproductive technology and resource conservation to genetic technology and biological warfare.

The emerging dialogue is complex and requires an ongoing re-thinking of general principles, such as expert biological evidence which features in a wide range of legal contexts, including medical law, torts, crime and intellectual property.

Studying the myriad ways in which law and biology come together in many areas of contemporary life, The Nexus of Law and Biology: New Ethical Challenges explores the juridical uses of biological sciences to illuminate key issues and contemporary intersections, arguing that each of several disciplines must dialog with one another while recognizing a common ground in ethics. Featuring an impressive roster of contributors, this book serves as an invaluable reference for legal scholars, students, practising lawyers and scientists engaged with the legal system.