European Treaty Series - No.186

     
     
ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL
TO THE CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND
BIOMEDICINE CONCERNING TRANSPLANTATION
OF ORGANS AND TISSUES OF HUMAN ORIGIN

     

Strasbourg, 24.I.2002

Preamble

The member States of the Council of Europe, the other States and the European Community signatories to this Additional Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine (hereinafter referred to as "Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine"),

Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe is the achievement of greater unity between its members and that one of the methods by which this aim is pursued is the maintenance and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Considering that the aim of the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, as defined in Article 1, is to protect the dignity and identity of all human beings and guarantee everyone, without discrimination, respect for their integrity and other rights and fundamental freedoms with regard to the application of biology and medicine;

Considering that progress in medical science, in particular in the field of organ and tissue transplantation, contributes to saving lives or greatly improving their quality;