The Ethics of Personalised Medicine : Critical Perspectives

This book presents the views of leading researchers from across Europe and North America, from both normative and empirical disciplines, in the multidisciplinary debate on the current state of research on the ethical, legal and social implications of personalised medicine. The work partially draws on a four year collaborative research project funded by the German Ministry for Education and Research, and at a time when future health care is a topic of much discussion this book provides valuable policy recommendations for the way forward.

In recent times, the phrase ’personalised medicine’ has become the symbol of medical progress and a label for better health care in the future. However, a controversial debate has developed around whether these promises of better, more personal and more cost-efficient medicine are realistic. This book brings together leading researchers from across Europe and North America, from both normative and empirical disciplines, who take a more critical view of the often encountered hype associated with personalised medicine. Partially drawing on a four year collaborative research project funded by the German Ministry for Education and Research, the book presents a multidisciplinary debate on the current state of research on the ethical, legal and social implications of personalised medicine. At a time when future health care is a topic of much discussion, this book provides valuable policy recommendations for the way forward. This study will be of interest to researchers from various disciplines including philosophy, bioethics, law and social sciences.