A "living will" is a type of health care document known as an "Advance Medical Directive." An advance directive is a generic term for a form or document which expresses your preferences in the event you are physically and mentally unable to make medical care decisions for yourself. That is, an Advance Medical Directive is a method of letting others know your wishes about treatment if you are un...

T he cancer community is hoping for important revisions to how clinical trials are run in Europe as the European Commission (EC) sets about overhauling the much-criticized Clinical Trials Directive. Adopted in 2001 and implemented by all EU member states in 2004, the directive aimed to create a harmonized framework for clinical research, as well as to improve patient safety and procedures for e...

The European Patent Organization not being a EU member state is not subject to this formal requirement of implementing the Directive. It is, however, highly desirable to have a common standard throughout Europe regarding the patenting of biotechnological inventions. The European Patent Organization recently decided to implement the rules of the Directive into the Implementing Regulations to the...