Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Law and the Medical-Man: The Challenges of an Expanding Interface

  • Reference work entry
Legal and Forensic Medicine

  • 160 Accesses

Abstract

In the 1960s, medicine was a highly personalized profession, reflecting a candid relationship between physician and patient, based on fiduciarism. The institutionalization of healthcare, with growing governmental control and the urge towards resource optimization, has widened the rift between individual and community perspectives. In such a pluralistic milieu, adequate understanding of law is necessary in order to harmonize legitimate interests of diverse parties, within the parameters of moral concepts and socioeconomic constraints. The interface of medicine and law has been expanding rapidly, embracing in its fold, newer areas, and all those involved in healthcare ought to keep themselves posted with the ongoing legal trends, including legislative enactments and judicial decisions. With the advancement of medicine and biotechnology, several areas which were earlier not known, or if known were of theoretical interest, have assumed great practical importance. Specific legislative strategies, in some of these areas are yet to crystallize, and the healthcare providers are therefore guided by the sense of human values, professional ethics, socioeconomic imperatives, judicial pronouncements, and the interests of their own establishments. Specific areas covered by this chapter include organ transplantation, end-of-life decisions, clinical trials involving human subjects, assisted reproduction, and the status of the embryo and the fetus. The chapter offers a broad overview of the emerging areas requiring the physician to update his legal knowledge and perceptivity in order to discharge his/her professional obligations effectively within the local legal impositions and the socio-economic, political and cultural milieu which may differ in different jurisdictions.

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

Access this chapter

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

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Callahan D. Medicine and the market: a research agenda. J Med Philos. 1999; 24(3):224–42, at p229.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Moore v Regents of the University of California, 793 P.2d 479, 271 Cal, Rptr, 146 (1990), Cert. Denied, 111 S.Ct. 1388 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Byk C. A map of a New Treasure island. J Med Philos. 1998;23:234–46. at p 236.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. In the Matter of Estate of Late K and In the Matter of the Administration and Probate Act 1935 ex parte The Public Trustee, as commented upon by Derek Morgan, in “Rights and legal status of embryos”, Australian Health Law Bull. 7, April/May (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Yesley MS. “Bioethics in the United States of America: Who Decides?” Human Genome Research and Society. Proceedings of the Second International Bioethics Seminar in Fukui, 20–21 Mar 1992. p. 34–45.

    Google Scholar 

  6. V. Kishan Rao v. Nikhil Superspeciality Hospital and Another, (2010) 5 Supreme Court Cases [513].

    Google Scholar 

  7. Martin F. D’Souza v.Mohd Ishfaq (2009) 3 SCC 1.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug v. Union of India. SCALE 2011 (3) Mar 7–13 p. 298–353.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab, 1996 (2) SCC 648.

    Google Scholar 

  10. http://www.organtransplant.org/understanding/unos/

  11. Vacco v. Quill, 521 U.S. 793 (1997) Supreme Court of United States.

    Google Scholar 

  12. 373 Mass. 728, 370N.E.2d 417 (1977),

    Google Scholar 

  13. 379 So.2d 359 (Fla. 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  14. 52N.Y.2d 363, 438 N.Y.S.2d 266, 420N.E.2d 64 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  15. 398 Mass. 417; 497N.E.2d 626.

    Google Scholar 

  16. 497 U.S. 261 (1990) 497 U.S. 261.

    Google Scholar 

  17. 564N.E.2d 1017 Mass.,1991.

    Google Scholar 

  18. 26 Cal. 4th 519, 28 P3d 151 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  19. 780 So.2d 176, 177 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001) Supreme Court of Florida, USA. Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida v. Michael Schiavo, Guardian of Theresa Schiavo, No. 04–757, order dated 24 Jan 2005. http://www.supremecourt.gov/Search. aspx? FileName=/docketfiles/04-757.htm

  20. 546 U.S. 243 (2006), Supreme Court of United States.

    Google Scholar 

  21. USA MT DA 09–0051, 2009 MT 449 (2009) Supreme Court of Montana, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Re T (Adult: Refusal of Treatment) 72 [1992] 4 All ER 649.

    Google Scholar 

  23. [2002] 2 All ER 449.

    Google Scholar 

  24. In Malette v. Shulman (1990), 67 D.L.R. (4th) 321 (Ont. C.A.).

    Google Scholar 

  25. de Quebèc 82 (1992) 86 DLR (4th) 385.

    Google Scholar 

  26. re BMV [2003] VSC 173.

    Google Scholar 

  27. The Supreme Court of West Australia “Australian quadriplegic who won landmark ‘right-to-die’ case starves to death: MailOnline. 22 Sept 2009 http://www.dailymail.co.uk%20/news/worldnews/article-1215042/Quadriplegic-man-dies-having-won-right-starve-landmark-case.html. Accessed 29 Mar 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ruling 03.11.2006 2A.48/2006 of the Federal High Court of Switzerland.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Court Liberalizes Rules for Right to Die Cases”. New York Times’ June 25 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  30. “Italy man wins life support plea”. BBC News. 2008-11-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7728284.stm 28

  31. In re Quinlan, 70N.J. 10, 355 A.2d 647, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  32. H LTD v J & ANOR – [2010] SASC 176.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Legislative branch of Canadian Parliament. Thu. March 24, 2011. schema-root.org. Accessed 28 Mar 2011.

  34. PNCI. Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues. http://www.pncius.org/newsletter.aspx?id=42. Accessed 28 Mar 2011.

  35. Craine PB. “Euthanasia Bill Unexpectedly Defeated in South Australia” LifeSiteNews.com Wed 18 Nov 2009 http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2009/nov/09111807. Accessed 27 Mar 2011.

  36. Boddy N, O’leary C, Taylor R. Upper House votes down Euthanasia Bill. 23 Sept 2010. thewest.com.au

  37. Christie B. “Legal move to help terminally ill people to die rejected in Scotland” BMJ. 2010; 341:c6986 doi: 10.1136/bmj.c6986. (Published 3 Dec 2010).

    Google Scholar 

  38. www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-40…

  39. http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2011/03/assisted-suicide-politics-in-united.html

  40. Nuremberg Code, adopted by the U.S. Tribunal on 19 July, 1947, Principle No.1.

    Google Scholar 

  41. The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979) Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, 18 Apr 1979, the Belmont Report.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Convention for the protection of human rights and dignity of the human being with regard tothe application of biology and medicine: convention on human rights and biomedicine, Oviedo, 4 Apr 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, UNESCO, 11 November, 1997, Article 10.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Guidelines for good clinical practice, ICH Harmonised Guidelines, 17 Jan 1997, 1.61.

    Google Scholar 

  45. The Australian National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans, June 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Report on Confidentiality and Genetic Data, by the Working Group of the IBC, UNESCO, July 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects, adopted by the 52nd General Assembly of World Medical Association, Edinburgh, Scotland, October, 2000, Para. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects, adopted by the 52nd General Assembly of World Medical Association, Edinburgh, Scotland, October, 2000, Para. 19.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Ethical Considerations in HIV Preventive Vaccine Research, UNAIDS Guidance Document, May, 2000, commentary on Guidance point 7.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Nuffield Council of Bioethics. (2002). The ethics of research related to healthcare in developing countries, Nuffield Council of Bioethics, April 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  51. International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects, prepared by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences in collaboration with World Health Organization, Geneva 2002, Commentary on Guideline 12.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Hoedemaekers R, ten Have H. Commercialisation of genetic diagnostic services. Med, Healthce Philos. 1998;1:217–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Dickens BM. The challenge of equivalent protection. Commissioned Paper. Ethical and policy issues in international research: clinical trials in developing countries. Report and Recommendations of the National Bioethics Commission, Bethesda, April 2001, Vol. II. p. A-7.

    Google Scholar 

  54. ICMR. General Statement. In Ethical guidelines for biomedical research on human subjects. New Delhi: ICMR; 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Marshall PA. The relevance of culture for informed consent in U.S.-funded international health research. Ethical and policy issues in international research: clinical trials in developing countries. Report and Recommendations of the National Bioethics Commission, Bethesda, April 2001, Vol. II. p. C-6.

    Google Scholar 

  56. 5 Cal.4th 84, 851 P.2d 776.

    Google Scholar 

  57. McWhinnie A. Gamete donation and anonymity. Should offspring from donated gametes continue to be denied knowledge of their origins and antecedents? Human Reprod. 2001; 16(5):807–17.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Arons J. Future choices, assisted reproductive technologies and the law. Center for American Progress, December 2007 www.americanprogress.org

  59. Morgan D. Rights and legal status of embryos. Austr Health Law Bull. 1996; 4(7), April/May 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  60. George RP, Tollefsen C. Embryo: a defense of human life. New York: Doubleday; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Kanta Mohanlal Kotehca v. The Branch Manager. I (2007) CPJ 517.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Roe v Wade 420 US 113 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  63. 505 U.S. 833 (1992) ; 112 S.Ct. 2791 (1992); 60 U.S. L.W. 4795.

    Google Scholar 

  64. 405 U.S. 438; 92 S. Ct. 1029.

    Google Scholar 

  65. 492 U.S. 490 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  66. 842 SW 2d 588 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  67. Bonbrest v. Kotz 65F Supp 138 (DDC 1946).

    Google Scholar 

  68. 138 Mass 14, 52 Am Rep 242 (1884).

    Google Scholar 

  69. Justice I G Farlam in of Road Accident Fund v. Mxolisi Richard Mtati obo Zukhanye. (Case No. 332/04. At http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:OAt5k9 ui-QAJ:www.ufs.ac.za/apps/law/appeal/files/2005/2/656RAF%2520v%2520Zukhanye.doc+Martel+v.+merton+and+Sutton&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=in. Accessed 30 June 2008.

  70. 233 S.C. 369, 105 S.E.2d 88 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  71. 236 S.C. 257, 113 S.E.2d 790 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  72. 341 F.2d 75.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Taylor D. “Does a foetus have more rights than its mother” Guardian of 23 April 2004, p6 of the Comment & Features Section.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Society for Health Laws and Ethics, 203 Nirman Apartments, Mayur Vihar Ph.-I, New Delhi, 110091, Delhi, India

    Dr. R. R. Kishore M.D., LLB

Authors
  1. Dr. R. R. Kishore M.D., LLB
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. R. Kishore M.D., LLB .

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

Kishore, R.R. (2013). Law and the Medical-Man: The Challenges of an Expanding Interface. In: Beran, R. (eds) Legal and Forensic Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32338-6_28

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation