The body in pieces: property rights in face of detached human body parts

Abstract

Departing from the problems that arise due to the lack of clarity regarding the legal status of detached parts of the human body, this paper has as its main objective the investigation of the most adequate manner of comprehending and regulating the interests that fall upon such corporeal elements, searching to evidence its theoretical and pragmatic implications. The developed claim is that separated parts of the human body can be understood as things regulated by the Property Law, even if with some limitations and connections to the personality rights.