Sheila A.M. McLean – författare

Autonomy is often said to be the dominant ethical principle in modern bioethics, and it is also important in law. Respect for autonomy is said to underpin the law of consent, which is theoretically designed to protect the right of patients to make decisions based on their own values and for their own reasons. The notion that consent underpins beneficent and lawful medical intervention is deeply rooted in the jurisprudence of countries throughout the world. However, Autonomy, Consent and the Law challenges the relationship between consent rules and autonomy, arguing that the very nature of the legal process inhibits its ability to respect autonomy, specifically in cases where patients argue that their ability to act autonomously has been reduced or denied as a result of the withholding of information which they would have wanted to receive. Sheila McLean further argues that the bioethical debate about the true nature of autonomy – while rich and challenging – has had little if any impact on the law. Using the alleged distinction between the individualistic and the relational models of autonomy as a template, the author proposes that, while it might be assumed that the version ostensibly preferred by law – roughly equivalent to the individualistic model – would be transparently and consistently applied, in fact courts have vacillated between the two to achieve policy-based objectives. This is highlighted by examination of four specific areas of the law which most readily lend themselves to consideration of the application of the autonomy principle: namely refusal of life-sustaining treatment and assisted dying, maternal/foetal issues, genetics and transplantation.This book will be of great interest to scholars of medical law and bioethics.

Autonomy is often said to be the dominant ethical principle in modern bioethics, and it is also important in law. Respect for autonomy is said to underpin the law of consent, which is theoretically designed to protect the right of patients to make decisions based on their own values and for their own reasons. The notion that consent underpins beneficent and lawful medical intervention is deeply rooted in the jurisprudence of countries throughout the world. However, Autonomy, Consent and the Law challenges the relationship between consent rules and autonomy, arguing that the very nature of the legal process inhibits its ability to respect autonomy, specifically in cases where patients argue that their ability to act autonomously has been reduced or denied as a result of the withholding of information which they would have wanted to receive. Sheila McLean further argues that the bioethical debate about the true nature of autonomy – while rich and challenging – has had little if any impact on the law. Using the alleged distinction between the individualistic and the relational models of autonomy as a template, the author proposes that, while it might be assumed that the version ostensibly preferred by law – roughly equivalent to the individualistic model – would be transparently and consistently applied, in fact courts have vacillated between the two to achieve policy-based objectives. This is highlighted by examination of four specific areas of the law which most readily lend themselves to consideration of the application of the autonomy principle: namely refusal of life-sustaining treatment and assisted dying, maternal/foetal issues, genetics and transplantation.This book will be of great interest to scholars of medical law and bioethics.

The successful achievement of pregnancies following pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was first reported in April 1990. The technology is often used for patients who are at substantial risk of conceiving a pregnancy affected by a known genetic disorder, however from this technology other more controversial uses have arisen such as HLA typing to save the life of a sibling, gender selection for social reasons, the prevention of late onset diseases, or the prevention of diseases which may be genetically predisposed to developing such as breast cancer. The technology surrounding PGD is constantly developing, giving rise to new and unexpected consequences that create fresh ethical and legal dilemmas. Featuring internationally recognized experts in the field, this book critically explores the regulation of PGD and the broader legal and ethical issues associated with it. It looks at the regulatory situation in a number of jurisdictions including New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, but it also explores a number of themes of wide significance including a historical consideration of PGD and its part in the creation of the "genetic embryo" as a political tool, the over regulation of PGD and the ethical difficulties in handling additional unexpected medical information yielded by new technologies. This book will be of particular interest to academics and students of law, medicine and ethics.

Genetics and Gene Therapy shows the wide range of the debate and the very real significance that genetics and its associated developments have for human beings, individually and collectively. Few areas of science and medicine have resulted in the volume of academic and popular literature as has genetics. The so-called revolution in understanding of the causes of disease states, and even behavioural traits, has focussed public attention on the influence of genes in making us what we are. Rapidly, however, the potential benefits of such understanding were overtaken, in the public mind at least, by the question of the possible (negative) implications of genetic knowledge and associated technologies. The chapters in this volume show just how wide-ranging concern has become, ranging from regulation to cloning, with the fear of discrimination in between. Part One begins with a range of general discussions of about the genetic enterprise itself, followed by consideration of some specific questions. Part Two then addresses cutting edge debates in genetics.

Genetics and Gene Therapy shows the wide range of the debate and the very real significance that genetics and its associated developments have for human beings, individually and collectively. Few areas of science and medicine have resulted in the volume of academic and popular literature as has genetics. The so-called revolution in understanding of the causes of disease states, and even behavioural traits, has focussed public attention on the influence of genes in making us what we are. Rapidly, however, the potential benefits of such understanding were overtaken, in the public mind at least, by the question of the possible (negative) implications of genetic knowledge and associated technologies. The chapters in this volume show just how wide-ranging concern has become, ranging from regulation to cloning, with the fear of discrimination in between. Part One begins with a range of general discussions of about the genetic enterprise itself, followed by consideration of some specific questions. Part Two then addresses cutting edge debates in genetics.