Consent in Body Donation for Scientific Research Between Self-Determination and Solidarity

Abstract

This article examines the role of consent in body donation for scientific research as a tool for balancing individual self-determination and collective interest. Drawing on a comparative study (England, France, Germany, the Netherlands) and a review of Italian Law no. 10/2020, it argues that consent performs a constitutive function in creating resources for scientific research, and identifies the shortcomings in the Advanced Healthcare Directives model, proposing more flexible and relational alternatives. The effectiveness of the system also depends on the capacity of institutions to build an environment of trust and transparency, as well as a widespread culture of donation.