Body Shopping

Is there an economy fuelled by flesh? And if so, who’s making money from a trade in body parts?

Advances in drug design, transplants and stem cells show medical science is advancing at an incredible rate. But fuelling this is a huge demand for body parts. Stem-cell research requires huge numbers of donated eggs and demand for transplant organs continues to outweigh supply.

Should we be able to make money from selling our body parts? Join us as we explore the ethical issues this raises. Quiz experts in the small group discussions and have your say.

Author Donna Dickenson will be discussing some of the issues raised in her new book, Body Shopping. How is the biotechnology industry profiting from the products of our body parts and is this right?

In the UK there is currently a shortage of organ donors – should there be a regulated organ trade? And given the promises that medical science holds, how should the biotech industry be regulated? Chat with bioethicist John Harris about his views.

How much is your dead body worth? That was the question BBC producer Michael Lachmann asked during his recent Horizon documentary. Quiz Michael about the undercover trade in human body parts. Where do human tissues fuelling the market come from and who’s making the profit?

Speakers

Donna Dickenson, Professor Emerita of Medical Ethics, University of London
John Harris, Professor of Bioethics, University of Manchester
Michael Lachmann, producer, Horizon, BBC
Facilitator: Lisa O’Sullivan, Senior Curator of Medicine, Science Museum

Event organised by:
The Science Museum