Springer The Ethics of Research Biobanking

This book investigates some of the ethical, legal and social challenges raised by research biobanking. It presents a comprehensive look at the issue of biobanking in an analogical approach and clarifies the institutional nature of research biobanks. Review From the reviews: “This book is composed of articles that reflect an interdisciplinary and transnational approach to the issues surrounding research biobanking. … The editors intend the book for professionals and regulators involved in research as well as academics and the general public. … The two-part structure … provides valuable information to readers at all levels of prior exposure to the issue of biobanking.” (Kelly K. Dineen, Doody’s Review Service, December, 2009) “Biobanks, defined as collections of biological materials or samples, exist on every continent of the globe. … book’s stated goal is to ‘explore some of the legal, ethical, and social issues and challenges raised by research biobanking,’ and it claims to be aimed at a wide audience, ranging from biobank researchers, health law experts, and philosophers to health and research regulators, politicians, and the general public. … this book is recommended as a textbook or as reference material for a course in comparative biobanking policy.” (Rogelio A. Lasso, Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 304 (8), 2010) From the Back Cover The Ethics of Research Biobanking investigates some of the ethical, legal and social challenges raised by research biobanking. In the first part of the book the authors pursue the different regulatory options envisaged within a normative terrain dictated by different conceptions and interpretations of the informed consent doctrine. In the second part a completely new approach is explored. The authors investigate the conceptual potential of different analogies outside medical research used to depict people's change and exchange of valuables between themselves and a common institution. The book is aimed at both academic and professional audiences (biobank curators, biobank researchers, ethicists, gene-epidemiologists, health law experts, philosophers, social scientists and advanced and graduate students in the relevant disciplines) as well as health and research regulators, ministries, politicians and the general public.