Legal bioethics deals with ethical and legal issues applied to the living world which, as far as human life is concerned, will be explored in depth with specific reference to both the beginning and the end of life, i.e., the extremes where the most critical issues arise. The analysis will focus in particular on the arguments and legal aspects of artificial reproduction techniques and the treatment of the terminally ill. There will also be an in-depth examination of two specific topical issues: the legal relationship between humans and animals and artificial intelligence applied to law.
About the origin and the definition of the word "bioethics" and the different meanings it has assumed. Secular and catholic bioethics. The main questions concerning the beginning and the end of life, arised in the time of its technical riproducibility. Other aspects of the bioethical discussion: the environmental bioethics and the animalistic bioethics. From bioethics to biolaw. Meanings and limits of the intervention of law in bioethical issues.
Students will be trained in bioethics in order to gain an overview of the subject and develop their own critical thinking skills. In addressing the various topics, the main ethical and legal arguments will be presented and concrete cases will be discussed. In particular, we will start with the origin and definition of the term ‘bioethics’ and the different connotations it has taken on. Moving through the dichotomy of ‘secular bioethics’ and ‘Catholic bioethics’, we will address the main issues raised at the beginning and end of human life in the age of technical and technological advances. Further areas of bioethical discussion will include environmental bioethics and animal bioethics, with reference to the current debate on the possible extension of legal subjectivity beyond species barriers. Finally, there will be an in-depth examination of artificial intelligence, in particular to understand how it intersects with philosophical and legal reflection and what bioethical relevance the idea of digital justice may have.
No prerequisites are required
Lectures with active student participation
1. Introduction to bioethics;
2. Bioethical issues concerning the beginning of human life;
2. Bioethical issues concerning the end of human life;
3. The relationship between humans and animals.
4. Bioethics and artificial intelligence.
Textbooks and any reading materials for attending students
S. Castignone, Nuovi diritti e nuovi soggetti, Genova, Ecig, 1996, Limited to pages 43-99 e pp. 123-170.
P. Becchi, Cos'è la bioetica. I temi e i problemi, Torino, Giappichelli, 2019, pp. 120;
F. Poggi (a cura di), Diritto e bioetica. Le questioni fondamentali, Roma, Carrocci, 2013, Limited to chapters nn. 1, 3, 10, 11.
P. Donadoni, Eziologia dell’animale familiare. Una questione di bioetica giuridica, 2025, Currently printing.
For attending students, materials will be made available progressively—via the web classroom—based on the progress of the lessons and the program.
Textbooks and any reading materials for non-attending students
F. Poggi (a cura di), Diritto e bioetica. Le questioni fondamentali, Roma, Carrocci, 2013, limited to chapters nn. 1, 3, 10, 11.
Students who do not attend classes must supplement the program by reading: P. Becchi, Licenza di morire, Torino, Giappichelli, 2025, Limited to pages 1-58.
Ricevimento: Department, Via Balbi 30, 5th floor, starting from February 2026.
PAOLO DONADONI (President)
ISABEL FANLO CORTES
LUCA MALAGOLI (Substitute)
Second semester from February 9, 2026, to May 8, 2026
BIOETHICS LEGAL
A preliminary partial written exam may be agreed upon with attending students, to be held at the end of or during the course.
Students having a valid certification of disability or Specific Learning Disorders (DSA) may request the use of compensatory measures during the exams (e.g. additional time and/or concept maps), following the guidelines (p. 5) published here. In any case, for further information, please contact the Department’s disability liaison: Isa.Fanlo@unige.it
Oral exam. One question will be asked on each text listed, and the discussion may then extend to other topics covered in the program. For students who attend classes, issues discussed in class but not covered in the textbooks will also be addressed.
For further information on the course, please contact the instructor by email
We recommend that you register on the course's aulaweb page, which will be activated at the end of January 2026
