Solidarity in Biomedicine and Beyond Cambridge Bioethics and Law Series

In times of global economic and political crises, the notion of solidarity is gaining new currency. This book argues that a solidarity-based perspective can help us to find new ways to address pressing problems. Exemplified by three case studies from the field of biomedicine: databases for health and disease research, personalised healthcare, and organ donation, it explores how solidarity can make a difference in how we frame problems, and in the policy solutions that we can offer.

1. Solidarity. A brief history of a concept, and a project; Part I. Theorising Solidarity: 2. Solidarity - intellectual background and important themes; 3. What is solidarity?; 4. Solidarity - normative approaches; Part II. Solidarity in Practice: 5. Solidarity in practice I: governing health databases; 6. Solidarity in practice II: personalised medicine and health care; 7. Solidarity and organ donation; Part III. Conclusions: 8. Solidarity with whom? Conclusions and ways forward.

Barbara Prainsack is a Professor at the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at King's College London. Her work looks at social, ethical and regulatory aspects of bioscience and biomedicine, often giving a voice to alternative or marginalised perspectives. She is a member of the National Bioethics Council in Austria, and the Ethics Group at the UK National DNA Database.
Alena Buyx is Professor of Biomedical Ethics and Co-Director of the Institute of Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany. She works in biomedical, research and public health ethics, directing several bioethics research projects, and providing local, national and international research and clinical ethics advice. Dr Buyx is a member of the German Ethics Council.