Chapter 15. Patenting Human Genes: Ethical and Policy Issues
- John Bryant Professor2,
- Dr Linda Baggott la Velle3,
- Revd Dr John Searle4
Published Online: 18 APR 2002
DOI: 10.1002/0470846593.ch15
Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Book Title
Bioethics for Scientists
Additional Information
How to Cite
Chapman, A. R. (2002) Patenting Human Genes: Ethical and Policy Issues, in Bioethics for Scientists (eds J. Bryant, L. B. la Velle and J. Searle), John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK. doi: 10.1002/0470846593.ch15
Editor Information
- 2
School of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- 3
Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- 4
Exeter & District Hospice, Exeter, UK
Publication History
- Published Online: 18 APR 2002
- Published Print: 31 MAR 2002
ISBN Information
Print ISBN: 9780471495321
Online ISBN: 9780470846599
- Summary
- Chapter
Keywords:
- ethics;
- gene;
- human genome;
- human rights;
- intellectual property;
- life forms;
- nature;
- patent;
- reform;
- value
Summary
Patent regulations in the U.S. and Europe have evolved to favour commercial interests and to exclude the broader public interest. The patent system has thus extended its remit to encompass life forms by lowering the requirements for novelty, inventiveness and utility. What is needed is a major reform of the system, preferably through an international policy forum with broad representation: this is too important to leave to the patent examiners. Far from being an obscure technical issue, this will have major impacts on the lives of current and future generations. There needs to be a reexamination, both economic and ethical, of intellectual property regimes, particularly how the current system applies to raw genomic information. Any reforms in intellectual property standards must be internationally adopted and must reflect The Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights. All this will require awareness of the problems in the current system plus considerable public pressure.