Body Shopping

Advances in modern technology are turning our tissues, genes, and organs into 'the currency of the future'. From beauty junkies to the international organ trade, Donna Dickenson reveals the ingenious ways in which body parts are converted into commodities. The true scale is immense: almost one in five human genes is the subject of a patent, and everything is fair game for profit-makers - from individual eggs to the genetic profile of an entire population. This gripping book is essential reading for anyone concerned with the ownership and commercial use of our bodies and those of our loved ones. Drawing on over 20 years of experience, Dickenson scrutinizes the evolving legal position, the historical long view, and the latest biomedical research, and suggests new strategies to bring the biotechnology industry to heel.

ISBN 185168591X   Pages 320 ISBN13 9781851685912 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Oneworld Publications   Weight (grammes) 422 Imprint Oneworld Publications   Published in London Format Hardback   Height (mm) 216 Publication date 01 Apr 2008   Width (mm) 135 Library of Congress TP248.2   Spine width (mm) 23 DEWEY 174.297954   Academic level General DEWEY edition DC22

1		Body shopping at both ends of life: babies and bones for sale		1
2		What makes you think you own your body?		22
3		'With love at Christmas - a set of stem cells'		43
4		Stem cells, Holy Grails and eggs on trees		63
5		Genomes up for grabs: or, could Dr Frankenstein have patented his monster?		90
6		The biobank that likes to say 'no'		115
7		Buying the 'real me': shopping for a face		132
8		My body, my capital?		151
		Endnotes		169
		Bibliography		196
		Index		217

"Donna Dickenson's 'Body Shopping' is an alarming and illuminating book. No-one with any interest at all in medicine and society and how they interact should miss this." Philip Pullman"For those of us who believe that the world would be a better place if our bodies' weren't strip mined for cash, Dickenson is a voice of wit, wisdom and hope. Body Shopping digs deep in its exploration of the true value of the human body." Francoise Baylis, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Bioethics and Philosophy at Dalhousie University. "Body Shopping distils the key bits of information that other media sources invariably omit, and poses the difficult questions that many researchers, policy-makers and funders don't want to see asked. Donna Dickenson enables all of us to begin finding practical answers to the unprecedented commercialisation of human bodies from BC to AD-- before conception to after death." Sarah Sexton, A Director of The Corner House, a public interest group working towards human rights and environmental and social justice."Blending shrewd policy analysis with a gift for storytelling, Donna Dickenson offers a riveting expose of the modern marketplace for human body parts and a compelling call to action." Lori Andrews, Law professor, co-author of GENETICS: ETHICS, LAW AND POLICY and author of the novel, THE SILENT ASSASSIN."As a professional working in the field of human reproduction and medical education I have a permanent ense of inchoate disquiet about the 'business' of fertility. She has crystallised my sense of disquiet into a firm desire to resist the 'objectification' and 'commodification' of the human body. This book is accessible and fascinating and I will definitely be sharing it with my students." Martin Lupton, consultant obstetrician and honorary senior lecturer at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London

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