When should precaution prevail? : interests in (public) health, the risk of harm and xenotransplantation.

Fovargue, Sara and Ost, Suzanne (2010) When should precaution prevail? : interests in (public) health, the risk of harm and xenotransplantation. Medical Law Review, 18 (3). pp. 302-329. ISSN 0967-0742

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Abstract

Xenotransplantation is an example of a developing biotechnology which highlights three differing interests in the health of the public; a specific interest in enhancing the health of individuals who require a particular procedure or treatment, a wider interest in protecting the health of us all by avoiding introducing biotechnologies which risk the health of the public, and a public interest in advancing medical knowledge and treatment. Here we explore how matters of private benefit and public risk can be appropriately reconciled and consider whether ideas of public health should take a more central role when deciding whether clinical xenotransplantation should proceed. The risks of xenotransplantation are not certain but the nature of the harm to individual and public health could be severe. The concept of risk is central to our analysis as xenotransplantation threatens potential future harm as well as possible benefit. We argue that it is sometimes legally and ethically necessary for the state to act in advance to protect the health of the public, and that xenotransplantation is such a case. In reaching this conclusion we adopt a precautionary approach; an approach which we modify by Mill’s harm principle.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Medical Law Review
Additional Information:
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in the Medical Law Review following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Fovargue, S. & Ost, S. When should precaution prevail? : interests in (public) health, the risk of harm and xenotransplantation. Medical Law Review. 2010 18 : 3 302-329. is available online at: http://medlaw.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/18/3/302
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/libraryofcongress/k1
Subjects:
?? XENOTRANSPLANTATIONHARMRISKPRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLEPUBLIC HEALTHLAWLAWMEDICINE (MISCELLANEOUS)K LAW (GENERAL) ??
ID Code:
34060
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
26 Aug 2010 09:19
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
21 Sep 2023 00:54