title: [The gift of human body's products: philosophical and ethical aspects].
abstract: In continental Europe, there is a very strong moral condemnation against putting parts or products of the human body on sale-and, consequently, against putting sperms and oocytes on sale. Only a gift is morally permissible. The situation is different in Anglo-Saxon countries. Who is right? Above all, it must be noticed that two views of the human body are facing each other here: for the first, the human body is a part of the person (so, it partakes of the person's dignity), whereas for the second, the human body is a possession of the person (the person is the owner of his/her body). In my opinion, the argument of dignity comes up against serious objections, and the property argument is more consistent. However, it does not follow that it would be judicious to put parts and products of the human body for sale on a market.
authors.affiliation: Institut éthique histoire humanités, université de Genève, CMU, 1, rue Michel-Server, 1211 Genève 4, Suisse. Electronic address: bernard.baertschi@unige.ch.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baertschi
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce; D035881:Compensation and Redress; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D018594:Human Body; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018587:Oocyte Donation / Q000191:economics* / Q000941:ethics*; D010067:Ownership / Q000191:economics; D013094:Spermatozoa; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000191:economics* / Q000941:ethics*
keywords: Bioethics; Bioéthique; Dignity; Dignité; Don de gamètes; Gametes gift; Gametes sale; Propriété de soi; Self-property; Vente de gamètes