On 31st March 2023, Prof Aisling McMahon was invited to present research from the European Research Council funded PatentsInHumans project at a seminar organised by the Law and Futures research group at Newcastle University. The seminar featured presentations by Prof McMahon and a presentation by Professor Muireann Quigley, (University of Birmingham). Prof Quigley discussed “Software as a Medical Device Living in a Material World?” based on research conducted by Prof Quigley and Dr Laura Downey as part of the EverydayCyborgs project at the University of Birmingham.
Prof Aisling McMahon’s paper was entitled “Patents on Technologies Related to the Human Body: The Urgent Need for Greater Bioethics Scrutiny”. The paper focused on developing a novel taxonomy of patentable ‘technologies’ related to human body, and using this, it argued that such patents – and how they are used - can pose significant bioethical implications, including, impacting how we treat, use and modify our bodies. The paper put forward the case that greater scrutiny is needed over the bioethical issues posed by patents and how they are used over such ‘technologies’ given the connection between such technologies and the human body.
Alongside this, while in Newcastle, on 30th March Prof Aisling McMahon also delivered a presentation at a book launch to celebrate the publication of the “Novel Beings: Regulatory Approaches for a Future of New Intelligent Life” edited collection which was edited by Dr David Lawrence (Durham University) and Dr Sarah Morley (Newcastle University). Aisling’s presentation focused on her chapter in the collection examining: “The “ethical” regulation of “novel being” technologies: the potential role for patents as ethical drivers, blockers and guiders?”
You can find out more about the PatentsInHumans project by visiting the project website: www.patentsinhumans.eu or by watching this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFVRHpzzuQM
