Altruism Reconsidered Exploring New Approaches to Property in Human Tissue

Biography

Dr Michael Steinmann is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. Prior to this, he taught philosophy at the Pennsylvania State University and was a Research Fellow at the Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine, University of Tubingen, where he was involved in several projects on problems of biotechnological innovation, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. He is the co-author of a book on standards in clinical studies. His research interests include standards of rationality and the plurality of values in bioethics. Professor Dr Peter Sýkora holds the Chair of Philosophy at the University of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Trnava. He is a member of the National Ethics Committee, Vice-Chairman of the National UNESCO Bioethics Committee in Slovakia and is included in the UNESCO Global Ethics Observatory database of ethics experts. His research interests include the conceptualization of human nature and the early human embryo, ethics of stem cell research and PGD, infanticide, ethnicity, and evolution theory. Professor Dr Urban Wiesing holds the Chair of Medical Ethics at the University of Tubingen and is Director of the Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine. Professor Wiesing is also Chairman of the Institutional Review Board of the Faculty of Medicine and deputy member of the IRB Board of Physicians of Baden-Wurttemberg. He is also Chairman of the Central Ethics Committee at the Federal Board of Physicians. His fields of research include ethical and philosophical implications of genetic screening, reproductive medicine and genetics, and research ethics.

'This timely and important collection confronts complex bioethical and legal issues and raises profound philosophical and legal questions. These essays help to unpack the intricate connections between the requirements of health research and concern for individual autonomy, our 'ownership' of our bodies and body parts, and the fundamentals of human dignity.' John Christman, Pennsylvania State University, USA 'Changes in biomedical research and practice require rethinking ethical frameworks. This collection reconsiders understandings and applicability of such concepts as "altruism" and "gift" in relation to tissue donation and biobanks. From a distinguished range of scholars, the chapters visit such notions as duties towards the human body, exploring models of governance and regulation to meet current challenges, both theoretically and practically. A "must read".' Ruth Chadwick, Cardiff University, UK 'Altruism Reconsidered brings together an impressively diverse range of leading scholars, from several different countries and traditions, to scrutinise the concept of property in the human body and its implications for bioethics and regulation. Given the increasing importance of such practices as biobanking, it is a timely and useful addition to the literature.' Stephen Wilkinson, Keele University, UK '... the book succeeds in producing a colourful kaleidoscope of opinions and disciplinary flavours. While a reader might imagine lengthy and boring explanations of a dry legal matter when thinking of property, the book reads well and has succeeded to show the richness and fascination of the matter, as well as the difficulties and limitations of present regulations.' Asian Bioethics Review '...this book provides a handy one-volume introduction to the quickly changing regulatory framework for human tissue transfer in Europe.' Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy