Body Of Research-Ownership And Use Of Human Tissue Donation

Moore was accused of trying to make a quick buck off the scientists who saved his life by removing his cancerous spleen, his plea for three billion dollars was denied having made it all the way to the supreme court. As a result of these cases having come from times in history without adequate legislation on tissue donation by which to comprehend the processes and limitations of tissue donation and property rights, Lacks and Moore both ended up in less than perfect standing. Lacks died poor, her cells living on to be a part of amazing discoveries and Moore was unable to get the compensation he felt he deserved for being a part of investigative research through his tissue donation as part of his treatment as a patient at UCLA. Professor of Law and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin—Madison, Alta Charo, goes over the history of legislation and lack of history- surrounding the donation of medical tissue in the piece entitled "Body of Research - Ownership, and Use of Human Tissue" stating; …show more content…
Nor is it without costs, in terms of possible losses to the collective interest in research and organ donation. Other systems, whether based on enhanced regulations protecting human subjects or a theory of trusteeship, could serve as well. But whichever system is chosen, it is long past time for the country to choose. State laws vary, federal regulations do not apply to all privately funded research, and a patchwork of rules cover the myriad laboratories and biobanks in the United States. Our tissue may be scattered. Our laws ought not to be. (The England Journal of