Medecine & Droit最新文献

The attainment of longevity and immortality, long a theme of fairy tales and myths, has now become a real-world quest. Scientists, innovators, and elite Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are engaged in an epic mission to transcend mortal limits and defeat death using innovative biomedical technologies. From cryonics and plasma infusion to genetic editing and mind uploading, the development of such technologies has been gaining momentum in recent years. Such biomedical advances in longevity and immortality, if successful, will have implications not only for individuals but also for society. Given their exponential growth as a target of commercial investment, it is crucial to address the potential bioethical and ecological issues these technologies pose within the ecosystem.

The market of biological drugs is constantly expending, increasing healthcare costs. Facing the expensive cost of the high cost of these drugs, biosimilar drugs have gradually emerged. They are “similar” to the originator drug but less expensive, as they do not have to bear patent and R&D costs. However, these treatments present a high risk of immunogenicity, and are subject to a strict marketing authorization. It also raises the question of their interchangeability, to ensure a high penetration rate. Nevertheless, the mechanism of permutation by the prescriber is well developed. Their substitution by the pharmacist continues to be debated. Legislative and regulatory developments have constantly fluctuated between authorizing substitution and rejecting it. The latest Social Security Financing Act 2024 of December 26th, 2023 should have marked a clear broadening of the conditions for substitution, but the legislator opted for an unambitious solution. These reversals demonstrate the tensions surrounding the issue of biosimilar substitution. On one hand, patients’ fears of any potential adverse effects needs to be acknowledge by healthcare professionals; on the other, the substantial economic stakes involved underline the need to speed up the process. The question of marketing and substituting biosimilar drugs is here addressed in a comparative approach with generic and hybrid drugs. Because biosimilars, like generics and hybrids, are a fantastic opportunity to save funds and reinvest in research, while maintaining the same therapeutic excellence.

Scaphoid fractures are difficult fractures to diagnose. They are often revealed at a late stage, or even at a very early stage of pseudarthrosis. Pseudarthroses may be asymptomatic and the fracture will be revealed when a new, more recent trauma occurs. For the expert physician, the question of a previous condition or pathological predisposition must be posed. Using two clinical cases of an old scaphoid fracture revealed by a recent trauma, the authors propose to study clinical and radiological elements in order to analyze imputability and discuss a possible previous condition or pathological predisposition.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is developing at an impressive speed in the field of health. AI paves the way for new practices in diagnostic assistance, preventive medicine, individualized patient follow-up, support in choosing a therapy, assistance in interpreting the results of additional examinations, etc. Far from being a magic bullet, delegating tasks to AI raises many ethical questions relating in particular to the supervision of algorithms, equal access to innovation and the use of patient data. It is still difficult to predict whether AI will remain a “safety net” for the doctor or if it will supplant him. France and Europe have laid down the principle of “human guarantee” in the interpretation of diagnostic and therapeutic results, implying that the machine cannot act alone and enshrining the responsibility of the health professional. This article aims to understand how complex AI is to regulate legally at the risk of neglecting its secrecy, whether at the individual or collective level.