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Biomedical subjects

Erwin Deutsch

Publications and source records attributed to Erwin Deutsch.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Medical experimentation concerning chemical and biological weapons for mass destruction.

This article is the text of a speech originally presented at the Second World Conference on Medical Ethics at Gijon, Spain, on 2 October 2002 under the title "Medical Experimentation Concerning Chemical and Biological Weapons for Mass Destruction: Clinical Design for New Smallpox Vaccines: Ethical and Legal Aspects." Experimentation on vaccines such as smallpox is subject to the usual ethical rules such as the need for informed consent. However, the participants will not often be at risk of catching the disease but expose themselves by taking part in the experimentation. Professor Deutsch explores the implications of this, including the position of vulnerable groups such as children, those with mental handicaps, and those acting under orders such as the miliary, the policy and fire officers.

Biological Warfare↗

Fetus in Germany: the Fetus Protection Law of 12.13.1990.

The "Fetus Protection Law" (Embryonenschutzgesetz ESchG) regulates the abusive use of reproductive techniques, the use of human embryos and the choice of sex. The Bundestag has singled out certain practices as being abusive, prohibited them and put criminal sanctions on them. Individual exemptions from criminal prosecution are made in favour of the surrogate mother who is to be the target of an assisted procreation and the foster-father. The ESchG represents a snapshot of current views on current practices in reproductive medicine. And therefore the ESchG will be rendered obsolete by newly created reproductive technologies if legislation does not adapt the law to these changes.

Abortion, Induced↗

Research and use of stem cells.

Stem cells have enormous potential in medicine. Stem cell research is allowedsometimes just for to a limited extent in a large minority of countries. Nevertheless, the research and use of stem cells should be encouraged.

Biomedical Research↗

Rights and obligations of the persons concerning their genetic data.

The right to privacy is a right that is universally recognised and which encompasses the protection of the genetic codes. However, this is not an absolute right and is limited when certain interests come into play. This article highlights such limits, analysing the different uses that can be made with the genetic data, as well as the dangers that such uses can entail.

Databases, Genetic↗

Limitation of medical research in German law.

In Germany, pharmaceutical trials and the testing of medical devices is regulated by statute. Any other kind of medical experimentation is handled according to the Declaration of Helsinki. Medical experimentation has to be reviewed by an ethics committee before the start and there has to be an elaborate research protocol, which provides for the protection of the experimental subject. In case of an accident, there is compulsory accident insurance as far as pharmaceutical trials and the testing of medical devices are concerned. The third party accident insurance just covers material loss, there is no provision paying and suffering. The sum paid by the insurance company is set off against damages for negligence. There is no strict liability for medical experimentation, but the German courts are expected to set very high standards for medical care in experimentation. The data protection and medical confidentiality have been lessened because of the European law that requires the experimental subject to give his consent to the inspection of the data or the file and if he takes part in the experimentation, that his data and some of his cells might be with the pharmaceutical company forever. In general, the German law seems to be adequate to the protection of experimental subjects.

Biomedical Research↗