Re: Patenting indigenous peoples' cells (was: Wow!)

I guess my point wasn't clear. I don't believe that factors which appear naturally in humans should be the subject of patent. However, if the patent office feels such patents are appropriate, I feel the person whose body had the characteristic is as much entitled to the reward as the discoverer. For instance if a mining expert walks across my property and recognizes signs of a rich gold vein his recognition of the naturally ocurring mineral does not make it his because it is on my property. So why should someone who recognizes the value of someone else's cells be able to profit.

I'm also confused...if the court upheld lack of informed consent how is the Dr. allowed to profit from an illegal act?

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S. Warwick
swarwick[_at_]sprynet.com