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Bioethics, Technology and Law-Period 1
OVERVIEW
CEA CAPA Partner Institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Primary Subject Area: Law
Instruction in: English
Course Code: R_BioTL
Transcript Source: Partner Institution
Course Details: Level 400
Recommended Semester Credits: 3
Contact Hours: 84
Prerequisites: Only students with a either a bachelor's or master's degree in law, philosophy, biomedical science or any other academic field that is relevant for the subject matter, qualify for this course.
DESCRIPTION
Central to this course are the fundamental legal-ethical questions that are raised by emerging biomedical technologies. Foundational legal-philosophical notions, such as human dignity, autonomy, justice, freedom and equality, have acquired a renewed meaning and urgency in the light of recent developments within the field of the medical biotechnology.
Medical biotechnology has enabled us to intervene with the human body and human life in radically new and far-reaching ways. Existing and emerging biomedical technologies, such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis, gestational surrogacy, organ transplantation, whole genome sequencing, human genetic engineering and synthetic biology, are confronting lawyers and ethicists with new and controversial questions that touch upon the foundations of national and international legal orders. Indeed, the foundational distinctions between, for example, person and thing, life and death, human and animal, and chance and choice, are no longer a natural given, but are increasingly becoming subject to human decision-making. Moreover, the traditional legal image of the person is put to the test. A few examples.
Why are women not allowed to sell their egg cells in most European countries? How should human embryos, frozen egg cells, organs and biological materials be legally qualified: as part of the person, or as the object
of property rights? How should the limits of life and death be understood on a legal level, now that these boundaries have become fluid as a consequence of technological developments? How should national governments respond to new forms of medical tourism, such as surrogacy and organ tourism? What are the legal limits to human enhancement, and on which thoughts and principles are they based?
These and other questions will be examined on three levels: a legal, a philosophical and a social-political level. Firstly, the key concepts and principles will be identified and analysed within the context of current legal regulation of biomedical technologies. In this process, the student will become familiar with the most important 'biolegal' frameworks and case-law. Secondly, these notions will be discussed against the background of several philosophical schools of thought, including liberalism, communitarianism, utilitarianism, bioconservatism, transhumanism and more symbolic and phenomenological approaches. Lastly, the practical effects of these legal and philosophical values will be discussed through an examination of recent public and political debates on biomedical issues.
Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.
Medical biotechnology has enabled us to intervene with the human body and human life in radically new and far-reaching ways. Existing and emerging biomedical technologies, such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis, gestational surrogacy, organ transplantation, whole genome sequencing, human genetic engineering and synthetic biology, are confronting lawyers and ethicists with new and controversial questions that touch upon the foundations of national and international legal orders. Indeed, the foundational distinctions between, for example, person and thing, life and death, human and animal, and chance and choice, are no longer a natural given, but are increasingly becoming subject to human decision-making. Moreover, the traditional legal image of the person is put to the test. A few examples.
Why are women not allowed to sell their egg cells in most European countries? How should human embryos, frozen egg cells, organs and biological materials be legally qualified: as part of the person, or as the object
of property rights? How should the limits of life and death be understood on a legal level, now that these boundaries have become fluid as a consequence of technological developments? How should national governments respond to new forms of medical tourism, such as surrogacy and organ tourism? What are the legal limits to human enhancement, and on which thoughts and principles are they based?
These and other questions will be examined on three levels: a legal, a philosophical and a social-political level. Firstly, the key concepts and principles will be identified and analysed within the context of current legal regulation of biomedical technologies. In this process, the student will become familiar with the most important 'biolegal' frameworks and case-law. Secondly, these notions will be discussed against the background of several philosophical schools of thought, including liberalism, communitarianism, utilitarianism, bioconservatism, transhumanism and more symbolic and phenomenological approaches. Lastly, the practical effects of these legal and philosophical values will be discussed through an examination of recent public and political debates on biomedical issues.
Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.
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