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Call for Chapters for GNLU’s Edited Book on Bioethics, Submit Abstract by Sept 8, 2021

Contents of this Page

About GNLU

Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar, India is a University established by the Government of the State of Gujarat under the Gujarat National Law University Act, 2003. This University is based in the capital city of Gujarat i.e. Gandhinagar, about 10 kilometres north to the Ahmedabad metropolis. The GNLU Act 2003 proclaims that GNLU, “shall be to advance and disseminate learning and knowledge of the law and legal processes and their role in national development: to develop in the students and the research scholars sense of responsibility to serve the society in the field of law by developing skills in regard to advocacy, legal services, legislation, parliamentary practice, law reforms and such other matters; to make law and legal processes efficient instruments of social development; and to promote the interdisciplinary study of law in relation to management, technology, international cooperation and development.” GNLU also offers LL.M, PhD, and part-time and distance Certificate and PG Diploma courses in law and related fields.

About the Project

Indian Bioethics Project is an independent project under Gujarat National Law University, which aims at contributing to the Indian discourses on the intersections between Bioethics and Law. There has hardly been a time in Indian history when the Indian traditions have not been in transition, except perhaps hypothetically at the very beginning of Indian civilisation. India may appear to be a culture wrapped in its past, possessed by religion, and aglow in its mystical tradition. By dealing with questions of right and wrong, ethics operates quite closely with religion, and historically, there have indeed been many intersections between religion and ethics. Given the religious plurality of India, which also adds to the cultural diversity, Indian ethics and particularly Indian Bioethics may have lessons for the pluralistic world.

Concept Note:

The pandemic brought with it a series of bioethical and legal issues- from compulsory vaccinations, to privacy. Issues of resource allocation and tiraging, social distancing, public health, privacy, surveillance, the rights of healthcare workers and patients, and questions on conduct of clinical trials that were hitherto unanswered, the COVID-19 pandemic was every bioethicist’s best and worst nightmare. These issues were complicated by the diverse health systems in India and the sui generis cultural and socio-economic milieu. It becomes important to document these issues, analyse them, and be prepared for the next pandemic.

Suggested Themes:

  1. Courts and Pandemic
  2. Separation of Powers in the Pandemic
  3. Federalism and the Pandemic
  4. Ethics of mandatory testing
  5. Ethical Issues in Lockdown
  6. Data and the Pandemic
  7. Privacy in times of the pandemic
  8. Migrant workers and Pandemic
  9. Arogya Setu and COWIN: Ethical and Legal Issues
  10. Ethical and Legal Issues of Clinical Trials in India
  11. Alternative medicine in times of the Pandemic
  12. Balancing Public Health and the Individual Rights
  13. An analysis of the Pandemic Handling by State/Central Governments
  14. Clinical ethics and the role of health care professionals
  15. Scientific transparency and knowledge-creation during the pandemic
  16. Responsibility and solidarity in COVID times
  17. Moral blameworthiness, the State, and the Pandemic
  18. Any other related theme

Submission Guidelines

  • Eligibility: Submissions are welcome from academicians, students, professionals
  • Word Limit: The chapter may be between 4000 and 5000 words including footnotes.
  • Authors’ Details: Details about the author(s), including qualifications and institutional affiliations, if any, are to be mentioned in the cover letter. Co-authorship (up to 2 authors) is permitted.
  • Abstract: The chapter must be accompanied by an abstract of 200-300 words.
  • Citation: A uniform mode of citation Harvard Bluebook latest edition must be followed throughout the work.
  • Formatting Details for Text: Times New Roman, Size 12, Line Spacing 1.5, Justified
  • Formatting Details for Footnotes: Times New Roman, Size 10, Line Spacing 1.0, Justified
  • Publication: The Book will be published by a publisher of repute with ISBN No.
  • Submission: All submissions are to be made via e-mail as MS Word documents at: [email protected]

Important Dates

  • Last date of submission of abstract: 8th September 2021
  • Communication of acceptance of abstract: 8th October 2021
  • Last date of submission of the full chapter: 20th December 2021
  • Communication of suggestions for amendments, if any, in the full chapter: 31st January 2022
  • Final submission of full chapters, after incorporation of suggested amendments: 14th February 2022

About the Author