McMahon, Aisling and Kolawole, Opeyemi I (2024) Biobank donation in search of public benefits and the potential impact of intellectual property rights over access to health-technologies developed: A focus on the bioethical implications. Medical Law Review. ISSN 0967-0742

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Abstract

The availability of biomaterials is a key component of health research and the development of new health-technologies (including, diagnostics, medicines, and vaccines). People are often encouraged by biobanks to donate samples altruistically to such biobanks. While empirical evidence suggests many donors are motivated by the desire to contribute towards developing new health-technologies for society. However, a tension can arise as health-technologies whose development is contributed to by donors’ biomaterials will often be protected by intellectual property rights (IPRs), including patents. Patents give rightsholders control over how patented technologies are used and can be used in a way that impedes public access to technologies developed. Yet, there are no binding European legal obligations mandating disclosure to donors of how IPRs can operate over downstream health-technologies and how they could impact access to health-technologies developed, nor are there legally binding obligations to ensure public accessibility of technologies developed. Focusing on the bioethical implications posed, this article argues that the current situation can impact donors’ autonomy and dignity interests. A more holistic approach is needed for biobank donation, which embeds a consideration of donors’ expectations/interests from the point of donation through to how such samples are used and how health-technologies developed are accessed. We put forward avenues that seek to address such issues.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Biobank; Bioethics; Informed Consent; Intellectual Property;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Law
Item ID:	18422
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fwae010
Depositing User:	Aisling McMahon
Date Deposited:	24 Apr 2024 11:14
Journal or Publication Title:	Medical Law Review
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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