What is Property?

Ashley Livingston


Wendy Sumner-Winter

English1010

24 October 2009



Tissues as Human Property?



Tissues are a “collection of similar cells that group together to perform a specialized function” (Carpi). Tissues and cells may be used for research to study diseases. They can also be used to help discover cures. Tissues that are removed from the body during surgery may not simply be kept by the doctor. If there are some tissues or cells “left over that can be used for research” (HTA), the patient must give the doctor permission through written consent. Written consent is a form the patient has to complete; the form allows the patient to either give the doctor rights to perform research on the tissues or the patient can choose to say no. Written consent may be overridden on “living patients if the samples are anonymous” (HTA). The issue has to be passed through an ethics committee first, though. A person may also donate their tissues after his/her death. Consent is always needed unless the person was deceased before September 1, 2006. If records show no sign of consent, permission can be requested from a close relative. The huge question past written consent is: Who does the tissues belong to? The term “property” cannot be defined. A decision has yet to be made as to who owns the tissues.