Biolegality: Human Bodies and the Law

 

 

Semester & Location:	Fall 2024 - DIS Stockholm
Type & Credits:	Elective Course - 3 credits
Major Discipline:	Criminology, Ethics, Legal Studies, Medical Anthropology
Faculty Members:	Polina Smiragina-Ingelström (current students please use the Canvas Inbox)
Program Director:	Neringa B. Vendelbo nb@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Tuesdays, 13:15 - 16:10 Classroom: E509 TIME BLOCK 1: 13:15 - 14:35 TIME BLOCK 2: 14:50 - 16:10

 

 

Course Description

This research course takes its point of departure from the intersection between bioethics, law, sociology, and social policy. You will be introduced to the legal and ethical frameworks that govern the human body, as well as the current controversies in biopolitics. Discussion topics range from reproductive technologies and organ transplantation to forensic medicine and crime. The course aims to promote dialogue and collaboration by bringing together students and instructors from different academic backgrounds. The course is divided into three modules: concepts and theories, methods and ethics, and research. The first module covers the central conceptual and theoretical frameworks of biolegality. You will then take your foundational understanding and explore various methodological approaches to studying the social problems that interest you the most, while also learning about the importance of ethical considerations in science. The final module is dedicated to individual and group work, where you will develop a research plan and carry out your own study, which will be presented at the end-of-semester research symposium.

Learning Objectives

- Investigate the regulatory frameworks governing the human body: students will explore the 
regulatory frameworks at the international, national, and regional levels, examining the roles of 
governments, research ethics committees, international and professional organizations in shaping 
policies related to biolegality.
- Learn to critically analyze the ethical and legal implications of the structures that govern the 
human body through critical engagement with the relevant literature, field studies and guest 
lectures: students will develop the ability to assess how legal and ethical frameworks as well as 
cultural, social, economic and political factors shape policy. Students will consider issues of 
equity, justice, and access to healthcare, as well as the influence of public attitudes and 
perceptions on bioethical debates. 
- Reflect on personal and professional ethical responsibilities and engage in ethical decision-making processes: students will develop the ability to analyze ethical dilemmas, evaluate 
potential solutions, and make informed decisions aligned with ethical principles.
- Collaborate in interdisciplinary research teams: students will engage in collaborative research 
projects, working alongside peers with diverse backgrounds and expertise to address biolegality 
challenges, developing skills in teamwork, communication, and interdisciplinarity to achieve 
common research goals.
- Learn and apply research methodologies to study biolegality issues: students will acquire research 
skills (including literature review, data collection, and analysis) to investigate specific biolegality 
topics.
- Learn to identify relevant legal and ethical considerations to develop evidence-based arguments 
and scientifically communicate research through papers, student conferences and research poster 
presentations.

Faculty

Polina Smiragina-Ingelström, PhD

PhD (2021, The University of Sydney), focusing on the gendered perspective on victimhood in the trafficking of men. MSc (2012, Gothenburg University), BA (2009, Moscow State University). Postdoctoral fellow in Criminology (Stockholm University). Polina’s research interests are within the disciplines of criminology and medical anthropology with a special focus on victimhood, gender, post-trafficking needs, and help-seeking behavior. Before commencing her academic career Polina was a migrant counselor and reintegration assistant at the UN Migration (IOM) mission in Russia. She was engaged in providing direct assistance to migrants in distress including victims of human trafficking and exploitation; and assistance in voluntary return and reintegration.  With DIS since 2016.

Readings

Books:

De Leeuw, M., Van Wichelen, S. Biolegality: A Critical Introduction. Springer Nature. (electronic)

Clark, T., Foster, L., Bryman, A., & Sloan, L. (2021). Bryman's social research methods. Oxford university press. (hard copy)

 

Articles:

Van Wichelen, S., & De Leeuw, M. (2022). Biolegality: how biology and law redefine sociality. Annual Review of Anthropology, 51(1), 383-399.

Riederer, B. M., Bolt, S. H., Brenner, E., Bueno-López, J. L., Circulescu, A. R., Davies, D. C., ... & Moxham, B. J.  (2012). The legal and ethical framework governing body donation in Europe: 1st update on current practice. 

Jones, M., & Salter, B. (2003). The governance of human genetics: policy discourse and constructions of public trust. New Genetics and Society, 22(1), 21-41.

McGovern, T., Schaaf, M., Battistini, E., Maistrellis, E., Gibb, K., & Casey, S. E. (2020). From bad to worse: global governance of abortion and the Global Gag Rule. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 28(3), 54-63.

Singer, E. O. (2018). Lawful sinners: reproductive governance and moral agency around abortion in 
Mexico. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, 42, 11-31.

Scott, J. (2011). Governing prostitution: Differentiating the bad from the bad. Current Issues in Criminal 
Justice, 23(1), 53-72.

Crowhurst, I., Outshoorn, J., & Skilbrei, M. L. (2012). Introduction: prostitution policies in Europe. Sexuality 
Research and Social Policy.

Scoular, J., & O'Neill, M. (2007). Regulating prostitution: Social inclusion, responsibilization and the politics of prostitution reform. The British journal of criminology, 47(5), 764-778.

Blazier, J., & Janssens, R. (2020). Regulating the international surrogacy market: the ethics of commercial 
surrogacy in the Netherlands and India. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 23(4), 621-630.

Pol, R. (2016). Proposing an international instrument to address issues arising out of international surrogacy arrangements. Geo. J. Int'l L., 48, 1309. 

 

Field Studies

• One of the following Scandiatransplant representatives in Sweden: “Mer Organ Donation”, KI Transplantation unit.
• RFSU (Swedish NGO working in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights)

Guest Lecturers

Expert on ethics from the Swedish research ethics board

Male sex worker from the Netherlands

DIS Accommodations Statement 

Your learning experience in this class is important to me.  If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure I receive your DIS accommodations letter within two weeks from the start of classes. If you can think of other ways I can support your learning, please don't hesitate to talk to me. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support acadsupp@dis.dk. 

 

Assignment	Percent
Participation	20%
Research plan	5%
Journal club presentations: Literature review	15%
Student Conference: presenting preliminary findings.	15%
Research poster presentations: DIS Stockholm Festival	15%
Final paper	30%

Academic Regulations 

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code

 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org