The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) is currently conducting two inquiries that fall directly within the spheres of bioethics and health law: one into surrogacy law, policy and practice, and one into the law of human tissue. Both inquiries are publishing Discussion Papers putting forward ideas for reforming the law in these complex areas. This session will provide an opportunity for health law and ethics communities to provide input into the recommendations for law reform in these fields.
Prior to the session, Discussion Papers for both inquiries will be published and available to AABHL members and this session will focus on the proposals and questions raised in these papers. Commissioner Dr Maeghan Toews will lead a discussion on the inquiry into human tissue law. Topics of discussion will include the legal determination of death; consent to donate tissue and bodies for research, education, and therapeutic purposes; and trade in human tissue and tissue products. Assistant Commissioner Assoc Prof Ronli Sifris will lead a discussion on the inquiry into the regulation of surrogacy. This will include exploring ideas to overcome existing barriers to accessing surrogacy in Australia, and considering what optimal regulation of surrogacy might entail. This session will provide an opportunity for robust and thoughtful discussion of the ALRC's proposals, and a unique opportunity for engagement between AABHL and the ALRC.