Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a medical system with a unique medical philosophy that continues to guide the contemporary turning out of new pharmaceutical formulae. The clinically-proved effective components of these formulae are being extracted by means of modern technology. Natural Chinese medicines account for approximately 30% of the global sales volume of all medicines, and the international market-size of the TCM industry is increasing rapidly. The TCM industry depends on the patent protection of the results of its R&D no less than does any other industry. However, the patent examination guidelines of many important jurisdictions are hostile to the granting of patents to TCM products and processes. This is partly attributable to the vast differences between the philosophies of TCM and Western medicine, and to the imperfect understanding in many jurisdictions (particularly where Western Medicine is dominant) of the former. To this considerable degree, patent law fails to accommodate the TCM industry. Consequently, the TCM inventor will be left open to the depredations of the ‘free-rider’ phenomenon, the circumstance in which the inventor loses the benefits of his invention, and his investment in it, to a purloiner. The research examines the compatibilities between patent law and TCM, and argues that patent policy shall be adjusted to better accommodate the characteristics of TCM. Other forms of IPR protection are also discussed in comparison with patent with the purpose of illustrating the significance of patent in protecting TCM inventions. / published_or_final_version / Law / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

A introdução do ensino médico-legal nos currículos de Direito, já assegura longa data e teve sua proposta relatada por Rui Barbosa e aprovada na Câmara dos Deputados, após o que o Governo brasileiro determinou a criação da cátedra de Medicina Legal nas Faculdades de Direito do país a partir de 1891. Ao longo de muitos anos foi disciplina obrigatória nos cursos de Direito transparecendo a importância da matéria na formação dos profissionais, mormente aqueles que militam na esfera criminal, mas também aplicável a, praticamente, todas as especialidades da área jurídica. A despeito da evolução das ciências forenses, que introduziram no século XXI novos horizontes da sua aplicação no contexto jurídico, ressalto ainda a própria cobrança da matéria nos concursos, para aqueles que almejam a carreira Policial. No entanto, independente da indiscutível importância da matéria, na formação acadêmica do profissional de direito, o Ministério da Educação decidiu estabelecer a Medicina Legal como disciplina optativa nos cursos de Direito. Essa medida veio ao de encontro dos interesses sociais, pois a sociedade, na busca de seus direitos, requer profissionais bem formados, com conhecimento compatível com a evolução científica. Ensinar Medicina Legal é uma árdua tarefa, pois há necessidade de valorizar mais a atividade docente e proporcionar meios para que esse ensino seja amplamente desenvolvido na formação da carreira jurídica. No presente trabalho são expostas as argumentações técnicas e pedagógicas para a manutenção de disciplina como obrigatória nos Cursos de graduação em Direito, visando, com isso, uma formação acadêmica mais completa, que corresponda a sua importante aplicação nas diversas áreas do Direito, bem como sua implantação como disciplina obrigatória nos exames de ordem da OAB. / The introduction of legal medicine teaching in the curricula of Law dates back a long time and had its proposal reported by Rui Barbosa and approved at the House of Representatives, after the Brazilian government determined the creation of the Cátedra of Forensic Medicine in the Law School from 1891.Throughout the years it was compulsory in Law course showing the importance of the subject in the formation of professionals, mainly those who work in the criminal sphere, but also applicable to all the specialties in the legal area. Regarding the evolution of the forensics science, that introduced in the XXI century new horizons in its implementation within the legal context, I would like to emphasize the importance of the subject in public contests, for those who aim the police career. However, regardless the relevance of the subject, in the academic formation of the Professional in Law, the Education Ministry decided to establish the Legal Medicine as an optional subject in Law courses. This measure has been against the social interests, since society, in search for their rights, demands well trained professionals, with knowledge compatible to the scientific evolution. Teaching legal medicine today is a hard task, since there`s more need in focusing on the teaching activity and providing means so that this teaching can be widely developed in the formation of the legal career. In this paper the technical and pedagogical arguments are shown to keep the subject as compulsory in the undergraduate course of law, and thus aiming at a more complete academic formation, portraying its important application in different areas of Law, as well as its implementation as a compulsory subject in the bar exams of OAB.

Over the past few years, embryo research has been a widely discussed topic. New techniques such as embryo stem cell research or therapeutic cloning are considered by scientists to be very promising. Nevertheless, opponents of these experimentations warn against the commodification of human life forms and argue that the moral status of embryos should protect them from being destroyed purely for research. / Legislations on this topic have been enacted in most Western countries, though they are still much criticised. Is there an adequate way of regulating embryo research? Our argument suggests that consensus can only be procedurally obtained. That is, we believe that only legislative assemblies should have authority to take a position on this controversial topic, which is subject to moral disagreement, and as such, judges should only have a minor role.

A introdução do ensino médico-legal nos currículos de Direito, já assegura longa data e teve sua proposta relatada por Rui Barbosa e aprovada na Câmara dos Deputados, após o que o Governo brasileiro determinou a criação da cátedra de Medicina Legal nas Faculdades de Direito do país a partir de 1891. Ao longo de muitos anos foi disciplina obrigatória nos cursos de Direito transparecendo a importância da matéria na formação dos profissionais, mormente aqueles que militam na esfera criminal, mas também aplicável a, praticamente, todas as especialidades da área jurídica. A despeito da evolução das ciências forenses, que introduziram no século XXI novos horizontes da sua aplicação no contexto jurídico, ressalto ainda a própria cobrança da matéria nos concursos, para aqueles que almejam a carreira Policial. No entanto, independente da indiscutível importância da matéria, na formação acadêmica do profissional de direito, o Ministério da Educação decidiu estabelecer a Medicina Legal como disciplina optativa nos cursos de Direito. Essa medida veio ao de encontro dos interesses sociais, pois a sociedade, na busca de seus direitos, requer profissionais bem formados, com conhecimento compatível com a evolução científica. Ensinar Medicina Legal é uma árdua tarefa, pois há necessidade de valorizar mais a atividade docente e proporcionar meios para que esse ensino seja amplamente desenvolvido na formação da carreira jurídica. No presente trabalho são expostas as argumentações técnicas e pedagógicas para a manutenção de disciplina como obrigatória nos Cursos de graduação em Direito, visando, com isso, uma formação acadêmica mais completa, que corresponda a sua importante aplicação nas diversas áreas do Direito, bem como sua implantação como disciplina obrigatória nos exames de ordem da OAB. / The introduction of legal medicine teaching in the curricula of Law dates back a long time and had its proposal reported by Rui Barbosa and approved at the House of Representatives, after the Brazilian government determined the creation of the Cátedra of Forensic Medicine in the Law School from 1891.Throughout the years it was compulsory in Law course showing the importance of the subject in the formation of professionals, mainly those who work in the criminal sphere, but also applicable to all the specialties in the legal area. Regarding the evolution of the forensics science, that introduced in the XXI century new horizons in its implementation within the legal context, I would like to emphasize the importance of the subject in public contests, for those who aim the police career. However, regardless the relevance of the subject, in the academic formation of the Professional in Law, the Education Ministry decided to establish the Legal Medicine as an optional subject in Law courses. This measure has been against the social interests, since society, in search for their rights, demands well trained professionals, with knowledge compatible to the scientific evolution. Teaching legal medicine today is a hard task, since there`s more need in focusing on the teaching activity and providing means so that this teaching can be widely developed in the formation of the legal career. In this paper the technical and pedagogical arguments are shown to keep the subject as compulsory in the undergraduate course of law, and thus aiming at a more complete academic formation, portraying its important application in different areas of Law, as well as its implementation as a compulsory subject in the bar exams of OAB.

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In this thesis, the author studies the ethical and legal aspects of research conducted on stored tissue samples of deceased persons in North America. / The first part of this thesis presents an overview of what constitutes human tissues and how are they used in research. The author describes the process in which human tissues are acquired and stored by health facilities, their utility for scientific research, and currently used techniques. / The second part is dedicated to the analysis of the current normative framework associated with research involving human tissue samples in North America. The author underlines the presence of two different normative regimes depending on whether the human tissues were removed before or after death. Finally, the author examines international documents in order to evaluate whether or not they can provide guidance to North American national legislation. / The third part evaluates the normative limitations associated with the use of stored tissue samples of deceased persons for research. The author considers that these limitations are related to the presence of conflicting interests, the difficulties in establishing rights over human tissues, the difficulties of establishing the rights of the dead, and the limitations of the theory of informed consent with regards to stored tissue samples. / The last part of this thesis suggests that stored human tissues should be interpreted as if they were part of an individual's medical record. After presenting some of the philosophical arguments in favour of such an interpretation, the author underlines the presence of legal precedents supporting the "tissue as information" model. The author finally examines the legal implications and the potential limitations of this proposal.

University of Macau / Faculty of Law