State and the Body

Elizabeth Wicks is a Professor of Human Rights Law at the University of Leicester.

• 1. Bodily Autonomy I. Introduction: Why the Body Matters II. Autonomy: Rights and Relations III. The Body IV. Conclusion 2. The Public-Private Distinction I. Introduction II. Different Meanings of Public and Private: Contexts, History and Rights III. Feminist Critique of the Public-Private Distinction IV. A Descriptive/Normative Spectrum V. Defining the ‘Private’ VI. Defining the ‘Public’ VII. Conclusion 3. Reproductive Choices I. Introduction II. Reproduction, the Public-Private Distinction and the Right to Respect for Private Life III. State Regulation of Reproduction in England and Wales IV. Justification for State Regulation of Reproduction V. Conclusion 4. Choices about DyingI. Introduction II. State Regulation of Dying in England and WalesIII. Justifications for the Regulation of Dying IV. Conclusion 5. Sexual Autonomy I. Introduction II. Regulation of Sexual Autonomy III. Public Morality and (Private) Sexual Autonomy IV. Conclusion 6. Bodily Modification I. Introduction II. Cosmetic Surgery III. Female Genital Mutilation IV. Body Integrity Identity Disorder and the Amputation of Healthy Limbs V. Gender Reassignment Surgery VI. Paternalistic Restrictions on Body Modification VII. Conclusion 7. Selling the Body I. Introduction II. Prostitution III. Surrogacy IV. Sale of Eggs or Organs V. Preserving the Choice Paradigm VI. Conclusion 8. Conclusion: Legitimate Justifications for Legal Regulation of Bodily AutonomyI. Defining Bodily Autonomy II. Embracing the Harm Principle III. Rejecting Paternalism and Moralism IV. Preserving the Dignity of the Human Species V. Defending the Choice Paradigm VI. Practical Recommendations to Enhance and Support Bodily Autonomy

This is indeed a thought-provoking book that continues an important debate about the dichotomy of privacy and paternalism, autonomy and regulation, harm and protection and the body and the mind. This book is likely to appeal to legal scholars, philosophers and bioethicists alike. It is well written and easy to read with a logical flow to the arguments.