Authors: Elena Salvaterra.
3D bioprinting of tissues and organs for the treatment or replacement of diseased body parts is widely recognized as key driver of the so-called 4th industrial revolution. Indeed, 3D bioprinting has the potential to play the role of a game changer in current and future biomedical practices by dramatically impacting on regenerative medicine and surgery and influencing the socio-economical field as a new business model. In spite of the numerous benefits that the 3D bioprinting seems to give to patients and broadly citizens, the fabrication of body parts (or human biofabrication) raises several concerns from ethical, legal and social perspectives. In this brief commentary the most prominent issues are considered by making a distinction between new (or renewed) questions - like the need to define the nature of the digitalized human body – and “old” issues as 1confidentiality, informed consent, intellectual property rights.
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