77920 Current Issues in Biomedical Law and Bioethics

This subject provides an in-depth exploration of the ways in which the legal system has responded to new medical developments. In accord with Justice Windeyer's famous observation, law is 'marching with medicine but in the rear and limping a little' (see Mount Isa Mines Ltd v. Pusey (1970) 125 CLR 283, 395). It is often assumed that law reform will solve many of the dilemmas which society faces in current medical developments such as genetic testing and reproductive technologies. This subject examines this assumption in relation to issues that arise in biomedical law and bioethics. In particular, the subject seeks to examine the impact which emerging medical developments may have on society, and to explore possible legal solutions to deal with the challenges presented by such innovations.