Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Legal and Forensic Medicine pp 1405–1423Cite as

European Convention of Human Rights and Biomedicine

  • Reference work entry

Abstract

The European Convention of Human Rights and Biomedicine is a transnational binding instrument aimed to protect human right in the specific field of biomedical research, genetics, and health care. It is a unique legal instrument, with power to hold responsible the ratifying states that do not comply with the minimum level of protection conferred to human rights regarding biology, medicine, and health care.

Because European countries are still apart from each other in moral and ethical issues, some domains were particularly difficult to regulate. Embryo experimentation was one of them, given that Europe is still divided in the exact judicial status of the human embryo, though the drafters of the convention were careful enough by referring the regulation of general guidelines to the national margin of appreciation.

A ubiquitous point, throughout the text of the convention, is informed consent, one of the main achievements of the convention. Informed consent becomes the cornerstone of every medical act therein regulated: therapeutic interventions, organs and tissue donation, human experimentation, and clinical trials. All the referred topics deserve legal scrutiny by the convention, some more specified than others. It is expected that further discussion of these questions will supply a more cohesive base of understanding in order to, in the near future, achieve solutions more specified and concrete, either in the convention itself or in annexed protocols.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   899.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   899.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Alt-Maes F. Les Recherches sur Embryon In Vitro. Rev Gén Droit Méd. 2008;27:33–50.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Andorno R. The right not to know: an autonomy based approach. J Med Ethics. 2004;30:435–40.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Andorno R. The Oviedo convention: a European legal framework at the intersection of human rights and health law. J Int Biotechnol Law. 2005;2:133–43.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Andorno R. Biomedicine and international human rights law: in search of a global consensus. Bull World Health Organ. 2002;80:959–63.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Andorno R. La Tutela Della Dignità Umana: Fondamento E Scopo Della Convenzione Di Oviedo. In: Furlan E, editor. Bioetica e Dignità Umana. Interpretazioni a Confronto a Partire dalla Convenzione di Oviedo. Roma: Franco Angeli; 2009. p. 77–94.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bellver CapellaV. Pasos Hacia una Bioética Universal: El Convenio Europeo Sobre Derechos Humanos y Biomedicina. In: Romeo Casabona C, editors. El Convenio de Derechos Humanos y Biomedicina. Su Entrada en Vigor en el Ordenamiento Jurídico Español. Granada: Comares; 2002. p. 49–71.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Committee on Bioethics. Policy statement – consent for emergency medical. Services for children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2011;128:427–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Emaldi Cirión A. Las Intervenciones sobre el Genoma Humano y la Selección de Sexo. In: Romeo Casabona C, editors. El Convenio de Derechos Humanos y Biomedicina. Su Entrada en Vigor en el Ordenamiento Jurídico Español. Granada: Comares; 2002. p. 205–231.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Emmanuel EJ, Wendler D, Grady C. What makes clinical research ethical? JAMA. 2000;283:2701–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Fitzpatrick W. Surplus embryos, nonreproductive cloning, and the intend/foresee distinction. Hastings Cent Rep. 2003;33:29–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Foreman DM. The family rule: a framework for obtaining ethical consent for medical interventions from children. J Med Ethics. 1999;25:491–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Fraisseix P. La Protection de la Dignité de la Personne et de l’Espèce Humaines dans le Domaine de la Biomédecine: L’Exemple de la Convention d’Oviedo. Rev Int Droit Comp. 2000;2:371–413.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Greco D, Diniz NM. Conflicts of interest in research involving human beings. J Int Bioethique. 2008;19(1–2):143–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Harris J. Clones, genes and immortality. Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press; 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hetz S. Schutzwürdigkeit menschlicher Klone?: Eine interdisziplinãre Studie aus medizinrechtlicher Sicht. Baden-Baden: Nomos; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jyoti A, Kotecha JA, Manca D, Lambert-Lanning A, Keshavjee K, Drummond N, Godwin M, Greiver M, Putnam W, Lussier MT, Birtwhistle R. Ethics and privacy issues of a practice-based surveillance system. Need for a national-level institutional research ethics board and consent standards. Can Fam Physician. 2011;57:1165–73.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Lema Añon C. Antes de Beatriz. Cuestiones de Legitimidad y Regulación Jurídica en la Selección de Sexo. Editorial Comares: Granada; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Loureiro JC. A European status of the embryo. Copenhagen: Working Papers (Research Project); 1998. p. 109–17.

    Google Scholar 

  19. McHugh P. Zygote and “Clonote” – the ethical use of embryonic stem cells. New Engl J Med. 2004;351:209–11.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Nieuwenkamp JK. The convention on human rights and biomedicine. In: Rentdorff JD, Kemp P, editors. Basic ethical principles in European bioethics and biolaw, vol. II. Copenhagen/Barcelona/Guissona/Barnola: Center for Ethics and Law, Institut Borja de Bioètica; 2000. p. 325–32.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Nys H. La Convención Europea de Bioética. Objetivos, Principios Rectores y Posibles Limitaciones. Rev Derecho Genoma Hum/Law Hum Genome Rev. 2000;12:67–87.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Osuna E. Los derechos del enfermo en el marco jurídico español. Rev Iberoam Derecho Méd Med Legal.. 2000;5:67–72.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Osuna E, Pérez Cárceles MD, Esteban MA, Luna A. The right to information for the terminally ill patients. J Med Ethics. 1998;24:106–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Pérez-Cárceles MD, Osuna E, Luna A. Informed consent of the minor. Implications of present day Spanish law. J Med Ethics. 2002;28:326.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Raposo VL. Pode Trazer-me o Menu, Por Favor? Quero Escolher o Meu embrião. Lex Med. 2007;4(8):59–84.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Raposo VL. Se Busca Embrión en Buenas Condiciones para la Aplicación del Diagnostico Preimplantacional y el Bebe-Medicamento. Rev Bioét Latinoam – http://www.saber.ula.ve/handle/123456789/27951. 2009; 3(3).

  27. Raposo VL, Osuna E. Embryo dignity: The status and juridical protection of the in vitro embryo. Med Law. 2007;26(4):737–46.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Raposo VL, Prata C, Oliveira I. Human rights in today’s ethics: human rights of the unborn (embryos and foetus)? Cuad Constituc Cátedra Fradique Furio Ceriol. 2010;62/63:95–114.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Romeo Casabona C. Ethical, legal and social issues related to cell theraphy. Rev Derecho Genoma Hum/Law Hum Genome Rev. 2008;28:141–58.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Rosenbaum S, Abramson S, MacTaggart P. Health information law in the context of minors health information law in the context of minors. Pediatrics. 2009;123:S116–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Rylance G. Making decisions with children. A child’s rights to share in health decisions can no longer be ignored. Br Med J. 1996;312:794.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Shalev C. Human cloning and human rights: a commentary. Health Hum Right. 2002;6(1):137–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Steirteghem AV. Recherche sur les Embryons Humains. In: Englert Y, Orshoven AV, editors. L’Embryon Humain in Vitro. Paris/Bruxells: De Boeck Université; 2000. p. 69–75.

    Google Scholar 

Further Readings

  • Allan S. Regulatory design strategies and enforcement approaches for research involving human embryos and cloning in Australia and the United Kingdom – time for a change. Syd Law Rev. 2010;32:617–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews L. The legal status of the embryo. Loyola Law Rev. 1986;32:357–90.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • CDBI. The protection of the human embryo in vitro (Report by the Working Party on the Protection of the Human Embryo and Foetus). Strasbourg; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devolder K. Human embryonic stem cell research: why the discarded-created-distinction cannot be based on the potentiality argument. Bioethics. 2005;19(2):167–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harris J. No sex selection please, we’re British. J Med Ethics. 2005;31(5):286–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy J, Scott J, Kaufman D, Geller G, LeRoy L, Hudson K. Public perspectives on informed consent for biobanking. Am J Public Health. 2009;99(12):2128–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raposo VL, Self-determination in the end of life: a new understanding of human dignity. Third European Conference on Health Law – Book of Proceedings; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Biomedical Law; Vieira de Almeida Law Firm, Coimbra University, 3005 - 545, Coimbra, Portugal

    Dr. Vera Lúcia Raposo (Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law)

  2. Department of Legal Medicine, University of Murcia School of Medicine, Murcia, 30100, Spain

    Eduardo Osuna (Professor of Legal Medicine,)

Authors
  1. Dr. Vera Lúcia Raposo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eduardo Osuna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vera Lúcia Raposo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia

    Roy G. Beran

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this entry

Cite this entry

Raposo, V.L., Osuna, E. (2013). European Convention of Human Rights and Biomedicine. In: Beran, R. (eds) Legal and Forensic Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32338-6_98

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation