International health law and ethics

International Health Law and Ethics. Basic Documents contains a collection of treaty documents and soft law on health care rights and health ethics, used in health law training programs. Regional documents and explanatory reports on health care rights, which are derived from international human rights law, provide a way of "unwrapping" government obligations in health care, making rights more specific, accessible and (judicially) accountable. In addition, soft law declarations and medical ethics contribute to understanding the moral meaning of human rights in health care. As such, the principles and standards provide practical guidance for States when dealing with equal access to health care services, the rights of (categories of) patients, biomedical research, organ donation and transplantation, genetics and public health. These topics structure the approach of International Health Law and Ethics.This guide covers the basic documents, while general comments and explanatory reports amplify the principles embodied in the human rights treaties. The authoritative interpretations clarify a 'European approach' on the State's obligations concerning health care rights and ethics. This volume is an initiative of the Erasmus Observatory on Health Law. It will be a helpful guide for all trainers, health care professionals and students interested in human rights issues in health care.André den Exter (1966) is Lecturer in Health law, Erasmus University Rotterdam/Erasmus Medical center, The Netherlands.