School of Law School of Law
Academic Staff    
Professor Graeme Laurie
Professor of Medical Jurisprudence


School of Law
University of Edinburgh
Old College
South Bridge
Edinburgh EH8 9YL
UK

Tel: 0131-650-2020
Fax: 0131-662-0724
Email: Graeme.Laurie@ed.ac.uk
Biographical Details
Graeme Laurie is Professor of Medical Jurisprudence at the University of Edinburgh and Director of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Research Centre for Studies in Intellectual Property and Technology Law. His research interests include the role of law in promoting and regulating science, medicine and technology.  In 2001 he convened a World Health Organization Working Group that produced international guidelines on the establishment and maintenance of genetic databases, and from 2002-2004 he served as a member of the Interim Advisory Group on Ethics and Governance for UK Biobank. He is now the Chair of the permanent Ethics and Governance Council of UK Biobank. He is also currently the Chair of the Privacy Advisory Commitee for Scotland, and sits on other bodies such as the Scottish Executive's Generation Scotland Advisory Board and the NHS Central Register Governance Board. He recently gave evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution with respect to forensic uses of bioinformation. He is a member of the editorial teams of the European Journal of Health Law, the Journal of Medical Ethics, Butterworths Medico-Legal Reports and the AHRC's own online journal SCRIPT-ed.
Courses Taught
Medical Jurisprudence (Honours) (Course Organiser)
Theories and Philosophies of Legal Research (LLM)
European Lawyers Programme (Others)
*Doctoral Research Training Programme (PHD) (Course Organiser)
PhD Supervisees
Anne-Marie Bradshaw  'Legal and Ethical Aspects of Cloning'
Carol George  'Governance of the commercialisation of stem cell lines'
Phoebe Chienwen Hung  'Redefining Public Health Emergency in International Law'
Kathryn G. Hunter  'Access to Human Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing'
Katri Lõhmus  'Autonomy, reproduction and the European Court of Human Rights - a jurisprudential enquiry'
Wei Ouyang  'State Governance, Medical Law and Bioethics in China: A Socio-Legal Analysis'
Zoe Picton-Howell  'What can law contribute to difficult medical decision making for disabled children?'
Selected Publications
Books
Hector MacQueenGraeme LaurieCharlotte WaeldeAbbe Brown Contemporary Intellectual Property: Law and Policy (Oxford University Press, 2007)
Synopsis
The book offers an original perspective on intellectual property law. Beyond providing a thorough and up-to-date account of intellectual property law, the text examines the complex policies that inform and guide modern IP law at the domestic (including Scottish), European and international levels. The focus is on contemporary challenges to intellectual property law and policy.
Graeme LaurieJ. Kenyon Mason Mason and McCall-Smith's Law and Medical Ethics (Oxford University Press, 2006)
Synopsis
This is the seventh edition of this medical law textbook, and continues to provide an overview of the inter-relationship between medical ethics and practice and the law. There is, therefore, an emphasis on those aspects of medical practice that are governed, to a large extent, by the moral law. However, medical law, as such, is still a developing discipline which is being mainly shaped by the courts and there is extensive coverage of seminal and recent judicial decisions, particular attention being given to those which define the limits of professional freedom in the light of the increasing importance attached to personal autonomy. The book incorporates a strong element of comparative medical law having a particular interest in the shift of influence from other Anglophone jurisdictions to those in Europe. The text is directed in the main to students and practitioners of law but the overarching importance attached to ethical principles broadens its appeal to all those involved in the control and delivery of modern healthcare.
Graeme Laurie Genetic Privacy: A Challenge to Medico-Legal Norms (Cambridge University Press, 2002)
Edited Books
Graeme LaurieAlexander McCall SmithJ. Kenyon Mason Law and Medical Ethics (Butterworths, 2002)
Synopsis
Sixth Edition of leading medical law textbook
Journal Articles
J. Kenyon Mason, Graeme Laurie 'Peronal autonomy and the right to treatment: A note on R on the application of Burke v General Medical Council' (2005) Edinburgh Law Review vol 9: 123 - 132
Graeme Laurie 'Patenting Stem Cells of Human Origin' (2004) European Intellectual Property Review 59-66
Graeme Laurie 'DNA Theft - A New Crime in the UK' (2003) Nature Reviews Genetics p.584/4(8)
J. Kenyon Mason, Graeme Laurie 'Misfeasance in Public Office: An Emerging Medical Law Tort?' (2003) Medical Law Review 11, 194
Graeme Laurie 'Pharmacogenomics and Human Rights' (2002) Biotechnology Investment Today 60-65, Spring
Graeme Laurie 'Challenging Medical Legal Norms - The Role of Autonomy, Confidentiality and Privacy in Protecting Individual and Familial Group Rights in Genetic Information' (2001) Journal of Legal Medicine vol.22, pp.1-54
J. Kenyon Mason, Graeme Laurie 'Consent or Property - Dealing with the Body and its Parts in the Shadow of Bristol and Alder Hey' (2001) Modern Law Review vol.64(5), pp.710-729
Graeme Laurie, Michael Grodin 'Susceptibility Genes and Neurological Disorders - Learning the Right Lessons from the Human Genome Project' (2000) Archives of Neurology vol. 57, pp.1569-1574
Graeme Laurie 'Genetics and Patients' Rights: Where are the Limits?' (2000) Medical Law International Vol.5, pp.25-44
Graeme Laurie 'Protecting and Promoting Privacy in an Uncertain World: Further Defences of Ignorance and the Right Not to Know' (2000) European Journal of Health Law Vol.7(2), pp.185-191
Graeme Laurie, J. Kenyon Mason 'Negative Treatment of Vulnerable Patients: Euthanasia by any other Name?' (2000) Juridical Review pp. 159-178
Graeme Laurie 'Wielding the Implement of Law: Distilling New Rights and Responsibilities in the Age of the 'New Genetics'' (1999) Health, Risk and Society Vol. 1(3), pp.333-341
Graeme Laurie 'Parens Patriae Jurisdiction in the Medico-legal Context: The Vagaries of Judicial Activism' (1999) Edinburgh Law Review Vol.3 (1), pp.95-107
Graeme Laurie 'Obligations Arising from Genetic Information: Negligence and the Protection of Familial Interests' (1999) Child and Family Law Quarterly Vol. 11(2), pp.109-124
Graeme Laurie 'In Defence of Ignorance: Genetic Information and the Right Not to Know' (1999) European Journal of Health Law Vol. 6, pp.119-132
Graeme Laurie 'Intellectual Property Rights and the Interests of Indigenous Peoples' (1997) Lesotho Law Journal Vol. 10(1) pp.107-126
Graeme Laurie 'The Most Personal Information of All: An Appraisal of Genetic Privacy in the Shadow of the Human Genome Project' (1996) International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family Vol.10, pp.74-101
J. Kenyon Mason, Graeme Laurie 'The Management of Persistent Vegetative State in the British Isles' (1996) Juridical Review pp.263-283
Chapters
Graeme Laurie 'Genetic Testing and the Criminal Law in the United Kingdom' in Chalmers, Don (eds) Genetic Testing and the Criminal Law (UCL Press, 2005) pp.187-239
Graeme Laurie 'Patenting and the Human Body' in Ian Kennedy, Andrew Grubb (eds) Principles of Medical Law, Second Edition (Oxford University Press, 2004) pp.1079-1101
Graeme Laurie 'Privacy and Property - Multi-level Strategies for Protecting Interests in Genetic Material' in BM Knoppers and C Shriver (eds) Genomics, Health and Society - Emerging Issues for Public Policy (Policy Research Initiative, Canada, 2003) pp.83-98
Graeme Laurie 'Medical Genetics' in Frieder Dunkel and Kirsten Drenkhahn (eds) Youth Violence: New Patterns and Local Responses – Experiences in East and West (Forum Verlag Godesberg GmbH, Munchengladbach, 2003) chapter 15 (pp.189-195)
Abstract
with N. Muir and D. Bell
Graeme Laurie 'Medical law and human rights: passing the parcel back to the profession?' in Alan Boyle, Chris Himsworth, Hector MacQueen, Andrea Loux (eds) Human Rights and Scots Law (Hart Publishing, 2002) 245-274, 343-344
Graeme Laurie 'Privacy Property or Permission - Need our Models for Regulating Personal Genetic Material Be Mutually Exclusive' in (eds) Law and Technology (ACTA Press, 2002) 16-22
Graeme Laurie 'Legal and Ethical Implications of Life Extension Techniques' in (eds) New Research into the Treatment of Cancer and Age-Related Disease (Institute of Nanotechnology/DTI Biotechnology Division/Cancer Research Campaign, 2002) pp. 60-64
Graeme Laurie 'Law, Ethics and Genetics' in Reeve, Eric (ed.) (eds) Encyclopedia of Genetics (Fitzroy Dearborn, 2001) pp.594-605
Graeme Laurie 'Permanent Vegetative State: An Exercise in Legal Uncertainty' in LSS and BMA (eds) Competency and Consent in Vulnerable Persons (Law Society of Scotland and British Medical Association, 2000) pp.77-88
Graeme Laurie 'Civil Litigation following Injury and Death from Trauma - The Health Care Professional in Jeopardy' in J. Kenyon Mason, Basil N. Purdue (eds) The Pathology of Trauma (Arnold, 1999) pp.408-503
Graeme Laurie 'Consent' in J. Kenyon Mason, Alexander McCall Smith Law and Medical Ethics (Butterworths, 1999)
Graeme Laurie 'Body as Property' in J. Kenyon Mason, Alexander McCall Smith Law and Medical Ethics (Butterworths, 1999) Chpt.20, pp.485-497
Graeme Laurie 'Genetic Information and the Law' in J. Kenyon Mason, Alexander McCall Smith Law and Medical Ethics (Butterworths, 1999) Chpt.7, pp.167-188
Graeme Laurie 'Prenatal Screening and Wrongful Life' in J. Kenyon Mason, Alexander McCall Smith Law and Medical Ethics (Butterworths, 1999)
Graeme Laurie 'Biotechnology - Facing the Problems of Patent Law' in Hector MacQueen Innovation, incentive and reward. intellectual property law and policy (Edinburgh University Press, 1997) Vol. 5(3) pp.45-63
Graeme Laurie 'Biotechnology and Intellectual Property: A Marriage of Inconvenience?' in Sheila A. M. McLean (eds) Contemporary Issues in Law, Medicine and Ethics (Aldershot, Dartmouth, 1996) Chpt.12, pp.237-267
Notes and Reviews
Graeme Laurie 'Better to Hesitate at the Threshold of Compulsion: PKU Testing and the Concept of Family Autonomy in Eire' (2002) Journal of Medical Ethics 28, pp.136-138
Graeme Laurie 'Medical Records Linkage - When is it Lawful and in the Public Interest' (2002) E-L@w Review Issue 4, pp.5-6
Graeme Laurie 'Owning the Genome' (2001) Science and Public Affairs pp.10-11 (June)
Graeme Laurie 'Intellectual Property and the Human Genome' (2001) Chartered Institute of Patent Agents Journal July, pp. 352-354
Graeme Laurie, Michael Grodin 'Review - Against Relativism - Cultural Diversity and the Search for Ethical Universals in Medicine' (2000) Perspectives in Biology and Medicine vol. 43(4), pp. 627-29
Graeme Laurie 'Genetic Discrimination: How Does UK Law Measure Up?' (2000) Genetics Law Monitor pp.6-7
Graeme Laurie 'Review - Law and Human Genetics' (2000) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland Vol.45(4), p.41
Graeme Laurie 'Review - Protecting Privacy' (2000) Law Quarterly Review Vol.116(1), pp.173-179
Graeme Laurie 'Review - Medical and Dental Negligence' (1998) Edinburgh Law Review Vol.2(2), pp.243-245
Graeme Laurie 'Review - Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights: A Concise Guide to the TRIPS Agreement' (1998) International Journal of Law and Information Technology Vol.6(2), pp.245-246
Graeme Laurie 'Review - AIDS: A Guide to the Law' (1996) Medical Law International Vol.2(2), pp.183-187
Papers and Presentations
Graeme Laurie 'Tackling Community Concerns about Commercialisation and Genetic Research: A Modest Interdisciplinary Proposal' presented at Scientific Advancements in Medicine: Legal and Ethical Issues, University of Birmingham, UK, 2005
Graeme Laurie 'Paternalism and the Patient: Where Does Choice Leave Responsibility?' presented at Current Legal Problems, University College, London, 2005
Graeme Laurie 'Should There Be An Obligation of Disclosure of Origin of Genetic Resources in Patent Applications?' presented at First International Congress on Commercial Law and Business, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2005
Graeme Laurie 'Our Genes: Our Choice - But what is the Role of ‘Choice’ in Protecting Genetic Privacy?' presented at Our Genes: Our Choice, University of McGill, Montreal, Canada, 2004
Graeme Laurie 'Broadening the range of IPR beneficiaries: The role of consent in the patenting process.' presented at Bioethical Issues of Intellectual Property in Biotechnology, Tokyo, Japan, 2004
Graeme Laurie, Hunter, Kathryn 'Benefit Sharing and Public Trust in Genetic Research' presented at International ELSAGEN Conference on Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects of Human Genetic Databases, Reykjavik, Iceland, 2004
Abstract
with KG Hunter
Graeme Laurie 'La Vie Privée, La Propriété, La Personnalité : Doivent-elles être liées?' presented at Centre de Recherche en Droit Public: Conferences, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada, 2004
Graeme Laurie 'Patenting Stem Cells of Human Origin' presented at ATRIP International Association of Teachers and Researchers in Intellectual Property, Tokyo, Japan, 2003
Graeme Laurie 'What is wrong with European Patent Law and Policy on Stem Cells' presented at Stem Cells - Shaping the Future, London, 2003
Graeme Laurie 'Legal and Ethical Aspects of Genetic Privacy' presented at Protecting Patients Personal Data and Genetic Information, Nicosia, Cyprus, 2003
Graeme Laurie 'Patents, Patients and Consent - A Legal Perspective' presented at Bioethical Issues of Intellectual Property Rights, Cambridge, 2003
Graeme Laurie 'Privacy, Property or Permission - Need Our Models for Regulating Personal Genetic Material Be Mutually Exclusive' presented at Law and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 2002
Graeme Laurie 'Genetic Privacy or Solidarity - Can the Law Regulate Competing Claims to Genetic Information' presented at Genetics and Law Conference, London, 2002
Graeme Laurie 'Privacy, Property and Personality - A Case for Conceptual Linkage' presented at Expert Meeting on Privacy, Property and Personality, 2002
Graeme Laurie 'Genetic Information, Confidentiality and Informed Consent - Legal Issues' presented at Genetics and Health Policy Course, 2002
Graeme Laurie 'Human Rights and Pharmacogenomics' presented at British Pharmaceutical Conference, 2001
Abstract
Glasgow, September 2001
Graeme Laurie 'Genetic Databases' presented at World Health Organisation (European Partnership on Patients Rights and Citizens Empowerment), 2001
Abstract
Budapest, September 2001
Graeme Laurie 'Intellectual Property - Let's Think About Staking a Claim to our own Genetic Material' presented at Human Genome Organisation Satellite Conference, 2001
Abstract
Edinburgh, April 2001
Graeme Laurie 'Gift and the Paradox of the Property Paradigm' presented at Cultural Dimensions of the New Genetics, Lancaster, 2001
Graeme Laurie 'Genetics and Insurance - Is it in the Public Interest to Involve the Law' presented at UK Forum for Genetics and Insurance - Royal Society, London, London, 2000
Graeme Laurie 'Genetics and Patients Rights - Where are the Limits' presented at World Health Organisation (European Partnership on Patients Rights and Citizens Empowerment), Jerusalem, 2000
Graeme Laurie 'Explorations in the Legal Limits of Regulating Familial Genetic Relationships' presented at Genetical Knowledge, Prediction of Health and the Provision of Long Term Care - Ethical, Technical and Economic Issues, Royal Society of Edinburgh, 2000
Graeme Laurie 'The Legal and Ethical Implications of Life Extension Techniques' presented at Nanobiotechnology, Life Extension and the Treatment of Congenital and Degenerative Disease, Institute of Nanotechnology, 2000
Grants Awarded
Awarded £170,671 by SHEFC for project 'Generation Scotland', from 01/10/2003 to 31/12/2009

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