Research biobanks in pediatrics: Ethical, legal and social issues under the lens of health professionals

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  • E. Salvaterra
  • R. Giorda
  • M. T. Bassi
  • R. Borgatti
  • A. Martinuzzi
  • M. Nobile
  • U. Pozzoli
  • G. P. Ramelli
  • G. L. Reni
  • D. Rivolta
  • M. A. Stazi
  • S. Strazzer
  • C. Thijs
  • V. Toccaceli
  • A. Trabacca
  • A. C. Turconi
  • S. Zanini
  • C. Zucca
  • N. Bresolin
  • L. Lenzi

Over the last five years, the use of biological materials and data derived from children for research purposes has solicited intense debates within the ethical community internationally. Whereas the reflections on ethical, legal and social issues of biobanks storing newborn blood samples for therapeutic aims have started earlier - especially in relation to the development of both public and private cord blood banks - the attention for the ethical, legal and social aspects of pediatric research biobanks has emerged later in light of the pioneering debates on the ethical aspects of adult biorepositories. Nowadays, children biobanks are discussed in number of papers emphasizing the need for a special attention to the unique issues that they raise. This chapter offers a reading of typical ethical, legal and social issues related to children research biobanks viewed under the lens of health professionals involved in pediatric biobanking processes. Although it is limited to the views of European health professionals, it could serve as starting point for broader analyses comprising other geographically or culturally based communities.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRegulating Biobanks in Humans : The Use of Adult and Children Biomaterials for Clinical and Research Purposes
Number of pages18
PublisherNova Science Publishers
Publication date2014
Pages29-46
ISBN (Print)9781631176050
ISBN (Electronic)9781631176166
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

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