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Waste, Ownership and Bodily Products

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Abstract

This paper considers the extent to which bodily partsand products can be legitimately regarded as ``waste''in law and what are the legal consequences ofregarding them in this manner. First, what is theapproach of English law to bodily parts as property?Secondly, why is this an important legal issue?Thirdly, what do we mean when we say that something is``waste'' and can bodily products/parts be classifiedas ``waste''? Fourthly, if the English courts areprepared to recognise bodily parts and products asproperty, then what are the legal consequences ofregarding bodily products as ``waste'' and what problems may arise from such a legal conceptualisation? It isargued that these issues require a more measuredconsidered approach to regulation than simply leavingthem to ad hoc determination in the courts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Law, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    Jean McHale

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  1. Jean McHale
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McHale, J. Waste, Ownership and Bodily Products. Health Care Analysis 8, 123–135 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009494327013

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009494327013

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