Prof. Goodwin Presents John W. Fisher II Lecture at West Virginia University College of Law

Professor Michele Goodwin presented the 2012 John W. Fisher II Lecture in Law and Medicine at West Virginia University College of Law. Goodwin's talk was entitled "Who Owns Your Body? A Conversation About Medical Research and The Body Bazaar." She spoke about the troubling contemporary domains of medical research, where the human body is sometimes mined for its biological riches. Often, Goodwin argues, patients may be none the wiser. Drawing from historical accounts, including the troubling case of Henrietta Lacks, as well as medical research on prisoners, children and other vulnerable (and unwitting participants), she explores the legacy of human experimentation in the U.S. as well as its contemporary contours. Goodwin's lecture considered several controversial questions, including whether there is an obligation to participate in medical research, how courts legally define ownership in the human body, and whether current legal frameworks are sufficient in providing relief for exploited patients.