Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Constitutional law – Moral and ethical aspects'

This research examined the legal nature of the presumption of guilt created by section 235(2) of the South African Tax Admiration Act and considered whether or not its practical application violates the taxpayer’s fundamental right contained in section 35(3) of the Constitution, which gives every accused taxpayer the right to a fair trial, including the right to be presumed innocent. The research also provided clarity on the constitutionality of this presumption because it has been widely criticised for unjustifiably violating the taxpayer's constitutional right to a fair trial. The conclusion reached is that the presumption created by section 235(2) of the Tax Administration Act constitutes an evidentiary burden rather than a reverse onus. It does not create the possibility of conviction, unlike a reverse onus where conviction is possible, despite the existence of a reasonable doubt. Therefore, it does not violate the accused taxpayer’s the right to a fair trial and the right to be presumed innocent and hence it is constitutional. Accordingly, the chances that the accused taxpayer will succeed in challenging the constitutionality of section 235(2) of the Act are slim.

La revendication de transparence est récurrente dans des discours de différentes natures. En droit constitutionnel plus particulièrement, la transparence est souvent présentée comme une vertu garante de la moralisation de l’État. La volonté d'une moralisation par la transparence se manifeste tant dans le processus de construction de la norme constitutionnelle que dans la pratique du pouvoir. S’agissant de l'ensemble des règles juridiques qui structurent l'exercice du pouvoir politique et encadrent la compétition pour y accéder, il s’agira d’envisager ce pouvoir politique comme moyen d’action étatique. La transparence semble s'y inscrire comme la qualité du « bon gouvernement » et du « bon gouvernant ». Elle permettrait la réalisation des valeurs véhiculées par l’État de droit démocratique. La philosophie des Lumières était porteuse de cette démarche, une démarche également présente dans la morale utilitariste de Jeremy Bentham. Néanmoins, toute vertu possède ses vices. Non seulement la transparence n'est pas toujours réalisable mais plus encore, elle n'est pas toujours souhaitable
The claim for transparency is recurrent in speeches of different natures. Particularly in constitutional law, transparency is often presented as a virtue which guarantees the moralization of the state. The will for moralization through transparency is visible both in the building of the constitutional norm and in the practice of power. Regarding all the legal rules which structure the exercise of political power and regulate the competition for its access, this political power will be considered as a way to act for the government. Transparency seems to become the quality of a "good government" and a "good leader". It's supposed to achieve the values contained in the rule of law and the democraty. The Philosophy of Enlightenment carried this idea, so the utilitarian moral of Jeremy Bentham. But all virtue has its vices. Transparency is not always achievable, moreover, it's not always desirable

The purpose of this study to investigate the morality of persons in organisations and especially the effect of organisations on the moral autonomy of persons. In addition to reviewing the literature of moral autonomy in philosophy, psychology, sociology and organisation studies and management, the thesis also examines the ontology of organisations, moral agency and the organisation as a context. Based on this knowledge, a model is developed that addresses the relations of the organisation to society and the person to the organisation in ethical decision making. From this model the thesis develops three moral decision making categories. These are: moral autonomy. Where persons are allowed to use their moral values, moral heteronomy, where the organisation provides such values and moral anomy, where there is a lack of moral deliberation and moral values. Four research propositions are developed from this model. The propositions are that people are more likely to make morally autonomous decisions in personal life dilemmas than in organisational life dilemmas. In organisational dilemmas it is proposed that the organisation will affect the morality of its members. In bureaucratic organisations, people are expected to make more anomous organisational decisions when faced with an easy and simple dilemma and more heteronomous decisions when faced with complex and difficult dilemmas. In clan organisations, people are expected to make more autonomous organisational decisions. In a market organisation, people are expected to make more anomous organisational decisions. An exploratory primary research project is undertaken to test the model and the propositions developed. People from three Australian organisations that approximate Ouchi's (1980) typology of bureaucracy, clan and market organisations participated in the research. Managers and supervisors from each organisation were asked to assess the ethical climate of their organisation using Victor and Cullen's (1987, 1988) Ethical Climate Questionnaire. They also responded to Forsyth's (1980) Ethics Position Questionnaire and resolved and justified their resolutions six organisational and six personal ethical dilemmas. These dilemmas had been assessed by two groups of MBA students for relevancy, complexity and difficulty. The analysis of the primary data reveals that the three organisations have different ethical climates. It also reveals that the respondents from the three organisations do not differ insofar as they share similarly idealistic end relativistic ethical ideologies. They do however differ in the reasoning they use to resolve organisational and in some cases personal ethical dilemmas. People In organisation Alpha, the bureaucratic organisation, are more likely to make heteronomous decisions. People from organisation Beta, the clan organisation, are more likely to make autonomous moral decisions, and people from organisation Gamma, the market organisation, are more likely to make anomous moral decisions. These findings support the research propositions developed. More importantly, some people in organisations Alpha and Gamma did not perceive some organisational dilemmas as ethical issues but only as business issues that are void of ethics. In addition, people from organisation Alpha in particular were more likely to try to avoid making a decision and suggest that someone else in the organisation should make the decision not the person facing the dilemma. The findings suggest that organisations that rely on rules and regulations are more likely to remove the responsibility from ethical decision-making, and lead to avoidance of such decisions. The implications of these findings are discussed and opportunities for further research are identified.

The dramatic improvement of neonatal intensive care has produced vexing ethical and legal questions. One of the most striking issues is to determine whether the most defective neonates should be provided with intensive care and to what extent they should be treated. This thesis demonstrates that an attempt to answer this question and an analysis of the demands and limitations of a duty to treat defective neonates cannot properly occur without first considering the legal concerns and ethical issues surrounding the notion of "person". The author examines germane ethical theories and North-American jurisprudence to see what approaches and standards commentators and courts have adopted in this respect. This thesis demonstrates that in the context of the cessation or non-initiation of intensive care, the legal and moral status of very defective neonates remain ambiguous. In particular, the author suggests that a legal best interests analysis that includes quality of life considerations may actually involve the use of criteria similar to those supported by the authors of the controversial moral theories that negate the personhood of seriously handicapped newborns. The author ultimately concludes that a clear divide between the legal definition of the "person" and the moral and social perceptions of that term is misleading.

Over the past few years, embryo research has been a widely discussed topic. New techniques such as embryo stem cell research or therapeutic cloning are considered by scientists to be very promising. Nevertheless, opponents of these experimentations warn against the commodification of human life forms and argue that the moral status of embryos should protect them from being destroyed purely for research.
Legislations on this topic have been enacted in most Western countries, though they are still much criticised. Is there an adequate way of regulating embryo research? Our argument suggests that consensus can only be procedurally obtained. That is, we believe that only legislative assemblies should have authority to take a position on this controversial topic, which is subject to moral disagreement, and as such, judges should only have a minor role.

This thesis discusses the prohibition of human cloning in contemporary Islamic legal discourse, which relies on two distinct doctrines: the first seeks support in the Qur'anic text, while the second depends on method of utilitarian legal hermeneutics (al-istiṣlaḥ ). These doctrines are examined by comparing them to the method that contemporary Islamic legal discourse adopts, namely, uṣul al-fiqh. When this is done, a discrepancy emerges in the first doctrine that traces this prohibition back to the text of revelation, which in turn requires further clarification of the foundations of hermeneutics in uṣul al-fiqh---identified here as textual and legislative consistency. For this, Shaṭibi's theory of maqaṣid al-sharī'ah offers one of the most reliable bases for the hermeneutics to evaluate the second doctrine. The methodological venture in this thesis aims at criticizing the current methodology while at the same time offering a justified approach to hermeneutics in contemporary Islamic legal discourse and in the case of human cloning.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Perhaps one of the most talked about subjects worldwide and in South Africa these days is the abortion issue. A growing number of women admit to having had one. Basically there are two opposing views and values on the question of abortion. We normally hear people referring to the 'abortion issue'; my understanding of this is that there is a dialogue going on at the moment concerning abortion. In South Africa before the current Choice of Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) Bill, some activists' women and the ever-growing 'feminists' movements were lobbying and demanding that abortion be decriminalised. As we may all be aware, up until 1 February 1997, abortion or termination of pregnancy (TOP) in South Africa was conceivable under very restrictive atmosphere. Before the introduction of the current Termination of Pregnancy Bill, a majority of women had no access to abortion services in the country, hence the growing number of back-street job. By implication this means that most women given the choice, would not seek the experience of abortion, but if they do, it would be available to the in safe, legal, accessible and affordable service. Not only does the Act conceal that terminating pregnancy that occurred through criminal acts such as rape and incest is justifiable. The current liberal Termination of Pregnancy Bill also gives pregnant women the 'right' or 'freedom' to abort whenever and for whatever reason they deem fit. Part of the ethical dilemma of the abortion issue is that there are those who holds a view that always where there is a conflict of rights and interests, the foetus' rights must give way to, or that the foetus' rights must be overridden by those of a pregnant women. Pro-choice advocates maintain that a woman's choice to terminate her pregnancy is her own business and hers alone, in other words, this for them is a private decision. Well, I argue that this is not necessarily the case, ethically, the father of the unborn child should also be considered in such a decision. Given that virtually every abortion has risks, the parents of the aborting woman and to some extent the society at large are involved. Therefore, to solely talk of the 'mother's right to choose' is basically suggest that morality is "relative" and such relativism is conceived from the idea of privatisation of abortion and life in general. In the following pages I will look at the arguments in support of abortion and against it, and these are criticised. Also discussed are the ethical implications of the new South African Termination of Pregnancy Act. Broadly speaking, technology advancement has made it possible to detect the unborn baby's physical condition (sometimes even its mental state) while the mother is still pregnant. The ethical implications of this medical intervention are used to decide whether the unborn child should live or die. Given this, if the purpose of these prenatal diagnosis were for the destruction of the unborn, therefore, advocates of the movements such as 'the right to life', and 'pro-lifers' would argue that because of particularly twisted purpose, prenatal diagnosis must be abolished. Furthermore, I will acknowledge that the Termination of Pregnancy Bill as we have it, is appraised by feminists movements and others who are not necessarily feminists as allowing increased and unrestricted access to 'free' and 'safe' abortion in the government hospitals and clinics. However, I argue that this was rather prematurely introduced. I argue that a number of pregnant women claiming to be poor still present themselves to private doctors and private clinics for abortion and they pay anything between R 600- 800 or more depending where these services are provided. On the other hand, for one reason or another, other women still choose to terminate their pregnancies back street way although the risks are high in such servicing stations. In the light of these facts, one wonders whether it is appropriate to legislate for the termination of pregnancy or would it have been a worthwhile decision to delay the legislation of abortion for a while and thoroughly make a research and relevant preparation for it. I also argue that ideology plays an important part in the abortion debates. Besides, the abortion debate is also characterised by indoctrination, the purpose of which is to leave other confused. In both cases facts are misrepresented or false statements are made, and this for me is ethically unacceptable. I will also comment on the importance of linguistics, that is, the proper understanding of normal English terms and what I refer to as 'deceptive language' used by campaigners. Inthe last part of this thesis, I will outline some basic approaches to ethics and which belong to what is referred to as postmodernism. The Postmodern worldview deconstructs metanarratives so that no one particular belief is more believable than another. This worldview bring with it ethical relativism, which is a theory which holds that morality is relative to the individual. Three movements are given as an example of this move toward ethical relativism, they are: (a) Emotivism, (b) Subjectivism, and (c) Situationalism While I will argue that rape and incest are evil acts, and support abortion in cases involving such acts, however, I also believe that abortion is not the answer to the problem of rape and incest. I will propose a number of recommendations the South African government should have made before legislating for abortion. For instance, by creating separate abortion service facilities even in the hospital premises, with properly trained staff; so that people who came to seek advice for abortion are not intimidated by those who go to full terms with their pregnancy. Included in this thesis is a case study to demonstrate the complexity of the abortion issue to everyone involved. Some psychological and emotional symptoms following abortion will be outlined and this according to women who do share their abortion story is a reality they have to live with every day of their lives.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aborsie is moontlik een van die mees veelbesproke kwessies van ons tyd, sowel in Suid- Afrika as wêreldwyd. 'n Groeiende aantal vroue erken dat hulle al een gehad het. Basies is daar twee opponerende gesigspunte en waardes betrokke by die twispunt rondom aborsie. Aborsie was voor die aanvaarding van die jongste wetgewing (d.w.s. voor 1 Februarie 1997) in Suid-Afrika slegs moontlik onder streng beperkings. Voor die huidige wet ( die "Termination of Pregnancy Bill") in werking gekom het, het die meerderheid vroue geen toegang tot aborsie gehad in Suid-Afrika nie, wat gelei het tot 'n toename in agterstraat aborsies. Die nuwe wet gee nie slegs die reg om te aborteer aan vroue wat swanger is as gevolg van kriminele optrede soos verkragting of bloedskande nie. Die huidige, buitengewooon liberale wet gee ook vir alle praktiese doeleindes aan die vroue die reg om aborsie op versoek te ondergaan tot op 20 weke van swangerskap. Die doel van hierdie werkstuk is om hierdie nuwe liberale wet aan 'n krities ondersoek te onderwerp. Deel van die etiese dilemma rondom die kwessie van aborsie spruit voort uit die feit dat daar diegene is wat reken dat, indien daar enige konflik tussen regte en belange is, die regte van die fetus ondergeskik is aan die regte van die swanger vrou. Diegene ten gunste van aborsie voer aan dat die keuse gemaak moet word deur die betrokke vrou, en dat so 'n keuse uitsluitlik haar eie is. Ek argumenteer dat dit nie noodwendig die geval is nie. Die vader van die ongebore kind behoort ook 'n sê te hê in hierdie saak. Gegee dat elke aborsie sekere risiko's insluit, het die ouers van die betrokke vrou en die samelewing ook 'n belang by so ,'n situasie. Dus is om slegs te praat van die 'vrou se reg om te Ides' om te suggereer dat moraliteit "relatief' is, en sulke relativisme word afgelei van die idee van die privatisering van aborsie en die lewe in die algemeen. In die volgende bladsye sal ek die argumente vir en teen aborsie analiseer en kritiseer. Die etiese implikasies van die nuwe Termination of Pregnancy Act word veral bespreek. Tegnologiese vooruitgang het dit moontlik gemaak dat die ongebore baba se fisiese (en soms selfs mentale) kondisie bepaal kan word voor geboorte. Die etiese implikasies van die mediese intervensie word gebruik om te besluit of die ongebore baba moet lewe of sterf Dus, indien die doel van prenatale diagnose die moontlike vernietiging van die ongeborene insluit, sal diegene wat teen aborsie is, argumenteer dat so 'n verwronge doel veroorsaak dat sulke ondersoeke gestaak behoort te word. Ek sal erken dat die nuwe wet waardeer word deur feministe, en andere wat nie noodwendig feministe is nie, as 'n wet wat dit moontlik maak dat daar toenemende en onbeperkte toegang is tot 'gratis' en 'veilige' aborsies in regeringshospitale en klinieke. Maar ek wil argumenteer dat die wet te vroeg aangeneem is. Ek argumenteer dat 'n groot aantal verwagtende vroue voorgee dat hulle arm is en poog om 'n aborsie te kry by private dokters en klinieke, en dan tussen R600 - R800 of meer betaal vir so 'n diens, afhangende van waar dit geskied. Aan die ander kant, om een of ander rede, kies sommige vroue steeds om hulle swangerskappe te termineer deur agterstraat-aborsies, ten spyte van die risiko's. Gegewe hierdie feit, wonder mens of dit gepas was on 'n wet in te stel aangaande die terminasie van swangerskap, en of dit nie beter sou wees om die wetgewing uit te stel tot volledige navorsing gedoen is en voorbereiding getref is nie. Ek argumenteer ook dat ideologie 'n belangrike rol speel in die aborsie-debat. Die aborsie-debat word ook gekenmerk deur indoktrinasie ten einde mense te verwar. In beide gevalle is daar die wanvoorstelling van feite of word valse stellings gemaak, wat eties onaanvaarbaar is. Ek salook kommentaar lewer oor die belangrikheid van taal, dws die korrekte verstaan van normale (Engelse) terme en wat ek na verwys as die 'misleidende taal' wat gebruik word deur sekere kampvegters betrokke by die debat. In die laaste deel van die werkstuk sal ek sekere basiese benaderings tot etiek ondersoek, veral dié wat na verwys word as "postmodernisme". Die Postmoderne gesigspunt dekonstrueer metanarratiewe sodat geen spesifieke oordeel langer meer geloofwaardig is as 'n ander nie. Hierdie gesigspunt word dan ook vergesel deur etiese relativisme, wat huldig dat moraliteit relatief is tot die individu. Drie bewegings word genoem as voorbeelde van hierdie beweging na etiese relativisme, nl: (a) Emotivisme, (b) Subjektivisme, en (c) Situasie-etiek Alhoewel ek argumenteer dat verkragting en bloedskande morele verkeerd is, en alhoewel ek aborsie in sulke gevalle voorstaan, glo ek nie dat aborsie 'n antwoord bied op die probleem van verkragting en bloedskande nie. Ek sal 'n aantal voorstelle maak aangaande wat eintlik moes gebeur het voor die regering die huidige aborsiewet aanvaar het. Byvoorbeeld, dat aparte aborsie-fasiliteite, selfs by die hospitaal en met opgeleide personeel, geskep moes word ten einde te voorkom dat diegene wat advies vra aangaande aborsie nie geïntimideer word deur persone wat nie wil aborteer nie. Ingesluit in hierdie studie is 'n gevallestudie wat die kompleksiteit van die kwessie rondom aborsie, vir al die rolspelers, demonstreer. Sekere emosionele en sielkundige simptome, veroorsaak deurdat 'n persoon besluit het om te aborteer, sal geskets word. Vir vroue wat 'n aborsie ondergaan het is hierdie 'n realiteit waarmee hulle elke dag moet saamleef

Discourse ethics relates to an argumentative discussion about our moral norms and their foundations. The purpose of my research is to describe and evaluate the functioning of several institutions of discourse ethics as sources of normativity for the regulation of new medical technologies and to propose some possible interactions between law and these institutions.
The institutions of discourse ethics I will look at are: national commissions of experts, national ethics committees, technology assessment committees and consensus conferences. Used in these institutions, argumentative discussion has the capacity to influence the meaning we give to our moral norms as well as the context and the conditions for their application. These discussions generate a special kind of normativity, which ought to be recognised by our legal system. Law itself would benefit from an interaction with such normativity.

This thesis is a work of applied moral and political philosophy which analyses the moral value of marriage and argues for a restructuring of the legal institution of marriage in accordance with principles of justice. The first section contains exegesis and criticism of Kant's and Hegel's accounts of marriage. Kant's focus is on the contractual exchange of rights, Hegel's on the nature of the relationship between the spouses. In the second section, I consider Kantian, Hegelian, and eudaimonistic accounts of the moral value of marriage and conclude that moral value is found in the relationship between the spouses, not in the rights established through the marriage contract. In order to defend the position that loving relationships have moral value, I elucidate what moral value love for a particular other has within a universalist ethics. While I argue that marriage has no moral value which is not to be found in such relationships, I defend a Hegelian account which locates social value in the institution of marriage precisely because it promotes such relationships. In the final section, I argue that the principle of liberal neutrality requires that the principle of freedom of contract should apply to marriage. While I defend the institution of marriage against certain feminist criticisms, I also argue that justice requires that the state recognize same-sex and polygamous unions as marriages. Freedom of contract may be limited under certain conditions in the interest of gender equality; I argue for an interpretation of Rawls' principle of equal opportunity which entails that liberalism is committed to addressing gender inequality even at the expense of freedom of contract.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The progress that has been made over the last decade in the field of medical technology, has made it possible to treat medical conditions today, that was considered incurable before. In the medical field there are three milestones in particular which has led to important new discoveries. These are the charting of the human genome, the development of cloning techniques, and the discovery that stem cells could be used in the treatment of a great number of illnesses, as well as the regeneration of sick or damaged tissue. The development of these therapies are, however, morally controversial. The main reason for this is the fact that in most cases, these techniques involve research on, or the use of, embryonic cells. The reason why many people believe that it is morally problematic to use embryo tissue for research and/or therapeutic purposes, is because embryonic cells have the potential to develop into fully independent human persons. It is, however, also this characteristic of these cells which makes them so suitable for use in stem cell therapies: Because certain types of stem cells, especially stem cells that are found in embryos in an early stage of development, have not yet differentiated into specific cell types, they can be used to repair any cell type in a person with a compatible tissue type. The reason for this is that undifferentiated stem cells have the potential to change into any cell type found in the human body. The question that arises when a decision about the moral acceptability of these therapies has to be made is whether one can say that an existing person who happens to be ill, has a higher moral standing than an embryo. The only way in which the use of embryo tissue could be morally justified, would thus be if it could be proved that the moral standing of an embryo is not equal to the moral standing of a person. The other important consideration that has to be taken into account when the moral acceptability of these therapies has to be taken into account is the fact that it is possible to harvest stem cells from a number of sources. Some of these sources of stem cells are less controversial than others. The discussion of the moral problems arising from the use of embryo tissue for therapeutic purposes, would thus, in this thesis, focus to a large extent on determining what the moral status of the embryo might be. The different positions with respect to the moral standing of the embryo will be discussed in the light of arguments for, as well as against the use of embryo tissue for therapeutic purposes. An explanation will also be given of therapies for which the use of embryo tissue might be needed, at present as well as in the future. The potential gains for people suffering from certain conditions, could possibly serve as a justification for destroying embryos for therapeutic uses. The main purpose of this thesis is to be able to give morally justifiable reasons for the therapeutic use of embryo tissue. The specific conditions that would have to be met to make these therapies morally justifiable will also be explained.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vordering wat die afgelope dekade gemaak is ten opsigte van mediese tegnologie, het tot gevolg gehad dat dit vandag moontlik is om siektetoestande te behandel wat voorheen as ongeneeslik beskou is. Daar is veral drie belangrike mylpale wat in die mediese veld tot belangrike nuwe ontdekkings gelei het, naamlik die kartering van die menslike genoom, die ontwikkeling van kloningstegnieke, en die ontdekking dat stamselle gebruik kan word vir die behandeling van 'n groot aantal siektetoestande, asook die regenereering van siek of beskadigde weefsel. Die ontwikkeling van hierdie terapieë is egter moreel kontroversieel. Die rede hiervoor is dat hierdie tegnieke in die meeste gevalle navorsing op, of die gebruik van embrionale selle behels. Die rede waarom baie mense van mening is dat dit moreel problematies is om embrionale weefsel vir navorsing enlofterapeutiese doeleindes te gebruik, is omdat embrionale selle die potensiaal het om te ontwikkel tot volwaardige persone. Dit is egter ook hierdie eienskap van hierdie selle wat hulle so geskik maak vir terapeutiese doeleindes: Omdat sekere tipes stamselle, veral stamselle wat verkry word van embrio's wat in 'n vroeë stadium van ontwikkeling verkeer, nog nie gedifferensieer is wat seltipe betrefnie, kan hulle gebruik word om enige seltipe in die liggaam van 'n persoon met 'n verenigbare weefseltipe te herstel. Die rede hiervoor is dat ongedifferensieerde stamselle die potensiaal het om in enige seltipe wat in die menslike liggaam voorkom, te verander. Die vraag wat ontstaan wanneer daar besluit moet word oor die morele aanvaarbaarheid van hierdie terapieë, is of daar gesê kan word dat 'n reeds bestaande persoon wat siek is, 'n hoër morele status sou hê as 'n embrio. Die enigste manier waarop die gebruik van embrionale selle moreel regverdigbaar sou wees, sou dus wees indien daar bewys kan word dat die morele status van 'n embrio nie gelykstaande is aan die morele status van 'n persoon nie. Die ander belangrike oorweging wat in ag geneem moet word wanneer die morele aanvaarbaarheid van hierdie terapieë beoordeel moet word, is dat dit moontlik is om stamselle te verkry uit 'n verskeidenheid bronne. Sommige van hierdie bronne van stamselle is moreel minder kontroversieel as ander. Die bespreking van die morele problematiek rondom die gebruik van embrionale weefsel VIr terapeutiese doeleindes in hierdie tesis, sal dus tot 'n groot mate fokus op die bepaling van die morele status van die embrio. Die verskillende standpunte oor die morele status van die embrio sal bespreek word in die lig van argumente vir, sowel as teen die gebruik van embrionale weefsel vir terapeutiese doeleindes. Daar salook 'n verduideliking gegee word van watter tipe terapieë waarvoor die gebruik van embrionale weefsel nodig sou wees, tans en in die toekoms moontlik sou wees. Die potensiële baat wat siek persone uit hierdie terapieë sou kon vind, sou moontlik ook as 'n regverdiging vir die vernietiging van embrio's vir terapeutiese doeleindes kon dien. Die uiteindelike doel van hierdie tesis is om moreel regverdigbare redes te kan gee vir die terapeutiese gebruik van embrionale weefsel. Die spesifieke voorwaardes wat nagekom sou moes word om hierdie terapieë moreel regverdigbaar te maak, salook verduidelik word.

The goal of this work is to explore the role of theological bioethics in influencing the formulation of existing or proposed policies dealing with treatment decisions for seriously disabled newborns in our pluralist society. Part I of the paper attempts to determine as precisely as possible what bioethics is, particularly Judeo-Christian bioethics. After comparing the latter to the Hippocratic tradition and to secular bioethics, the distinctive characteristics and potential contribution of theological bioethics are identified. The policies then examined in Part II are: medical policies formulated by physicians, bioethical policies proposed by bioethicists and legal policies enunciated by court decisions and legal writers. In each case they are evaluated in the light of a number of specific ethical tests proposed as central to Judeo-Christian bioethics. The paper concludes that Judeo-Christian bioethics has not been particularly influential in our pluralist society. A final section proposes a model treatment policy.

This dissertation in four essays critically examines the emergence of international criminal courts: their international political underpinnings, context, and the impact of their political production in relation to liberal legalism, liberal political theory, and history. The essays conceive of international criminal legal bodies both as political projects at their inception and as institutions that deny their own political provenance. The work is primarily one of political theory at the intersection of history, international relations, international criminal law, and the politics of memory. The first essay questions Nuremberg's legacy on the United States' exceptionalist view of international law and its deviant practice, while the second essay explores the relationship between exploding inequality and the triumph of the human rights movement as well as the costs of international prosecutions to the detriment of transformative politics. The third essay explores the relationship between history and international criminal courts, as well as the limits of their engagement, while the fourth examines the idea of legalism - rule following as a moral ethos - in the context of real political trials.

Large-scale humanitarian crises in foreign countries raise the question of whether or not other countries have a duty to alleviate that suffering. In extreme cases, humanitarian intervention, that is: military intervention for the purpose of alleviating human suffering, is sometimes advocated as the morally required course of action. This thesis suggests that while the international community has a general moral responsibility to prevent and ameliorate humanitarian crises there is no simple duty of military humanitarian intervention. Hitherto, the question has typically been treated as a matter of either moral or legal principle. This thesis argues that empirical factors, which affect the international community's ability to carry out interventions effectively, have not been given their due weight in the debate. On the basis of evaluations of international responses to crises in Somalia and Rwanda, 1992 - 1994, it is suggested that a range of factors undermine the efficacy of humanitarian interventions. These factors include the impact of state interests, the effects of domestic politics in intervening states and, contrary to expectations, the role of humanitarian considerations in decision making on intervention. By showing the limitations of a simplistic view of a duty of humanitarian intervention the thesis seeks to contribute to reconciling idealism with realism in international crisis-responses. Based on sound moral and political judgment military interventions in humanitarian crises would hopefully be less ambitious and ultimately more effective.

My dissertation investigates Thucydides’ presentation of Sparta. By viewing the war through Sparta, one is confronted with debates on the moral dimensions of war. Sparta decries the imperialism of Athens as unjust and while the Athenians imply that such claims are merely Spartan ‘hypocrisy’ and therefore that Sparta does not truly take justice seriously, my study contends that the Spartan concern with justice and piety is genuine. While the Athenians present a sophisticated and enlightened view of what they believe guides all political actions (a view most scholars treat as Thucydides’ own) my study argues that Sparta raises problems for key arguments of the ‘Athenian thesis.’ Through a closer study of Thucydides’ Sparta, including his neglected Book 5, I locate details of both Sparta’s prosecution of the war and their regime that must be considered before agreeing with the apparent sobriety and clear-sightedness of the Athenians, thus leading the reader into the heart of Thucydides’ view of morality in both foreign affairs and domestic politics. A portion of this research is currently being prepared as an article-length study on the broad and important issue of hypocrisy in foreign affairs among states.

Thesis (DPhil (Philosophy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
Should surplus embryos which are destined to be discarded be protected at all cost, to the extent that they cannot contribute to medical knowledge - knowledge which could benefit society at large? Are embryos people or merely items of property? Different moral theories address these questions in different ways. Deontologists argue that the end never justifies the means and that the right not to be killed is more fundamental than the obligation to save. Utilitarians, on the other hand, argue that certain criteria should be met before moral significance can be contributed to an entity. The question of the moral status of the embryo is, as my discussion will show, one of the most widely discussed issues in the history of bioethics. Extensive literature exists on the topic. This study holds that an Ethics of Responsibility (ER) should by applied when answering the questions posed above as it encourages one to accept responsibility for the choices or decisions made and to defend them accordingly. I have endeavoured to answer the question of the personhood and rights of the embryo within the framework of the Ethics of Responsibility. Although these concepts overlap in many ways they remain central to the debate surrounding the sanctioning or prevention of the use of human embryonic stem cells in research. After identifying the micro-issues surrounding the human embryonic stem cell debate and explaining why both the deontologist and utilitarians fail to provide any adequate answers in this respect, I turn my attention to macro-issues such as safety concerns surrounding the usages and storage of stem cells. Commercialization, power issues, accessibility and the allocation of limited resources are also examined. Living in a society such as South Africa one cannot be blind to the inequalities of our health system. On a macro level I cannot but conclude that stem cell research does not seem to be a viable exercise within the South African context. South Africa faces a health care crisis far greater than the benefits stem cell research currently has to offer. However, the need still exists for a policy to guide future lawmakers who might need to address stem cell research and to guide decisions and actions. This brings me to my final chapter, namely proposing a morally justified policy for South Africa. I propose a policy which respects and values the autonomy of the progenitors’ choices (provided they have not been coerced) and which focuses on the beneficence of the greater society. Furthermore, it is paramount that the goal of any stem cell research should be for therapeutic use ONLY. Before commencing with the extraction of the stem cells, scientists should be obligated first to present convincing evidence that they have tried alternative ways to reach the same result. Once this has been proven, a regulatory body could issue the scientist/team with a license to undertake the specific research with a specific therapy as goal in order to prevent abuse. If they are found guilty of any unethical conduct their licenses should be revoked and an investigation launched.

Corruption and unethical management is a legitimate global concern as it can have a direct and substantial impact on the longevity and the success of an organisation, and a country. As a result much attention has been given to unethical behavior and organisational ethical violations over the last decade. Recent events have indicated that ethics management is an organisational concern with mammoth implications for organisations. The aim of this study was to investigate the development of strategies for the promotion of ethics and the impact of unethical conduct on an organisation. A direct link exists between employee behaviour and the organisational environment. The desired ethical environment is negatively affected if the employees cannot distinguish between right and wrong and do not act ethically when confronted with ethical dilemmas. Proposed ethics strategies may also be impacted on by the unethical behaviour of the leadership of organisations, compliance with legislation and poorly managed ethics strategies. The main research problem in this study was to identify what strategies could be adopted to create an ethical culture within an organisation. To achieve this objective a model was developed, proposed and supported with literature and the research study. A research questionnaire was designed to obtain the relevant data that was distributed to previously identified respondents. The results indicated that the majority employees were of the view that the organisational environment and leadership was not ethical and that the majority of employees were not actively pursuing an ethical environment. Findings indicated that the majority of employees felt that contributing factors to achieve an ethical environment was present, but ethic strategies were ineffective and poorly managed. The proposed study model, when implemented successfully, would allow the organisation the effective application of ethic interventions.

Thesis (MPhil)-- Stellenbosch University, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This ethical case study of public slaughter has indicated that there is an urgent need to address the issue of public slaughter, because it has resulted in animosity and polarisation between black and white people living in the Goldfields. Black people feel that their rights are violated, and they are not protected by the government because they encounter problems when practising their rituals. White people feel that the government is not protecting them from the health hazards caused by black people. The ultimate aim of the study is to contribute to and amplify the existing body of knowledge with regard to the extent of the problem experienced by people in the Goldfields, its impact in their every day lives and to propose guidelines that will help when regulations governing environmental issues are drawn. In order to accomplish these aims the following objectives should be realised by this study: • South Africa is a multi-racial country so a uniting policy is needed. • Each culture is unique and it has a special value, so no culture must be marginalised. • The old policy needs to be revised and amendments made. • Identify the actual causes of these problems. Are they racist driven or are they driven by genuine health concerns? This ethical study also indicates that the following are central values that should inform decision-making: • Health. • Respect and tolerance. • Communication. • Participation. Transparency. • Commitment. Based on the findings from the research conducted it is clear that both clashing parties (black and white people) need to live in peace at the ultimate end although their description of peaceful life differs, so the following recommendations are made as to how to address and alleviate problems caused by public slaughter. • A formal meeting must be convened to discuss this critical issue. • Drafted proposals must be produced. • The proposals must be debated. • The proposal must be adopted. • The existing bylaws must be changed.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie gevallestudie in etiek oor slagtery in die openbaar is bevind dat daar 'n dringende behoefte bestaan om die probleem van slagtery in die openbaar aan te spreek, veralomdat dit in die verlede reeds tot spanning en polarisasie tussen swart en wit groepe in die Goudveld aanleiding gegee het. Swartmense voel dat hulle regte aangetas word en dat hulle nie genoegsaam deur die owerheid beskerm word om hulle rituele uit te voer nie. Witmense voel weer dat die owerheid hulle nie beskerm teen gesondheidsgevare wat geskep word deur swartmense nie. Die uiteindelike doel van hierdie ondersoek is om 'n bydrae te lewer tot die uitbouing van bestaande kennis oor die omvang van die probleem wat mense in die Goudveld ondervind met slagtery in die openbaar, wat die impak daarvan is op die alledaagse lewens van mense, en om voorstelle aan die hand te doen wat gebruik kan word wanneer regulasies opgestel word oor omgewingskwessies soos hierdie. Om hierdie oogmerke te bereik sal die volgende punte in hierdie studie aandag ontvang: • Suid-Afrika is 'n veelrassige land, so 'n beleid word benodig wat mense verenig. • Elke kultuur is uniek en het 'n besondere waarde, dus geen kultuur mag gemarginaliseer word nie. • Die bestaande beleid moet hersien en aangepas word. • Die werklike oorsake van die probleme moet geïdentifiseer word. Is hulle rassisties van aard, of gebaseer op werklike gesondheidsoorweginge ? In hierdie etiese studie is ook vasgestel dat die volgende kern-waardes die proses van besluitneming behoort te beïnvloed: • Gesondheid. • Respek en verdraagsaamheid. • Kommunikasie. • Deelname. • Deursigtigheid. • Verbintenis ("commitment"). Vanuit die bevindinge van die navorsing is dit duidelik dat albei die botsende partye (swart- en witmense) uiteindelik in vrede met mekaar moet saamleef, alhoewel hulle omskrywings van 'n vreedsame lewe verskil van mekaar. Gevolglik is die volgende aanbevelings gemaak om die probleem van slagtery in die openbaar aan te spreek: • 'n Formele byeenkoms moet saamgeroep word om die kritiese probleem te bespreek. • Skriftelike voorstelle moet vir so 'n byeenkoms opgestel word. • Die voorstelle moet bespreek word. • 'n Voorstel moet aanvaar word. • Die bestaande regulasies moet verander word.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
In response to the 9/11 attacks and continuing threats of mass-casualty terrorism, the United States has adopted a new security strategy that emphasizes anticipatory actions including preventive war. Prevention, undertaken in the absence of an act of aggression or an imminent threat, is prohibited by modern conceptions of just war and international law. Many critics of the strategy fear that any legitimization of preventive war would endanger international stability. But an examination of the relevant ethical issues from the perspective of just war doctrine reveals contradictions within a blanket prohibition of preventive war. Preventive "strategic interventions" against illiberal regimes-states that correlate with the threats of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction-parallel humanitarian interventions in that they have an ethical basis in the relationship between human rights and the right of state sovereignty. A widely-accepted minimum standard of human rights, incorporated into new international institutions and/or an explicit revision of the definition of just war, could serve as an ethical boundary for both preventive wars and humanitarian interventions. The formal qualification of prevention and its merger with humanitarian goals could bring enhanced international legitimacy and support to preventive actions by the United States and its allies.
Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

Thesis (M.A.)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes older adults (65 years and older) have towards euthanasia. The subjects of the study were people 65 years of age and older who reside in homes for the aged within the Cape Metropolis. An equal number of subjects from the African, Coloured and European communities were randomly selected. A biographical questionnaire as well as the Euthanasia Attitude Scale and the Purpose In Life Test, were administered. The influence of four variables were focused on, namely age, ethnicity, meaning in life and health. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis and one-way ANOV A analysis were used. Ethnicity, meaning in life and health were not found to have a significant correlation with euthanasia. Age was the only variable found to have a significant correlation with euthanasia. The findings were discussed and certain recommendations were made.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om vas te stel wat die houding van ouer volwassenes (65 jaar en ouer) is ten opsigte van genadedood. Die proefpersone was almalouer as 65 jaar en woonagtig in ouetehuise binne die Kaapse Metropool. 'n Gelyke aantal proefpersone van die Afrika, Kleurling en Europese gemeenskappe is willekeurig gekies. 'n Biografiese vraelys, asook die "Euthanasia Attitude Scale" en "Purpose In Life Test", is gebruik. Die invloed van vier veranderlikes, naamlik: ouderdom, kultuur, betekenis in die lewe en gesondheid, is ondersoek. Pearson korrelasionele koëffisiënt en een-rigting ANOV A ontledings is gebruik. Etnisiteit, betekenis in die lewe en gesondheid het nie beduidend met genadedood gekorreleer nie, ouderdom was die enigste veranderlike wat beduidend met genadedood gekorreleer het. Die bevindinge is bespreek en sekere aanbevelings is gemaak.

This study argued that the issue of non-state actors requires a comprehensive response that includes the recognition of both non-binding and binding human rights obligations of these actors. It examined critically the emerging norms on voluntary obligations, state responsibility, and direct responsibility of these actors with regard to human rights at both international and domestic levels.

Thesis (LLM)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of regulating surrogacy in the light of the existing legal position and the relevant moral aspects. It is now medically possible for one woman to bear a child, which is not genetically related to her, on behalf of another person. Currently the law makes no specific provision for the regulation of surrogate motherhood. The key problem in this regard is that the existing law is applicable to surrogate motherhood, inter alia because surrogacy is brought about by artificial insemination and because the intended parents can only acquire parental authority by way of adoption. The final recommendation is a Surrogacy Act for South Africa. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part is an analysis of the relevant moral and social aspects relating to surrogacy in order to justify the above-mentioned act morally. Commercial surrogacy, the genetic tie between parent and child, the differences between surrogacy and adoption, the question as to who is a parent and surrogacy for convenience are analysed. Despite all the arguments that can be made in favour of or against these moral issues in a vacuum, these arguments will be irrelevant in cases where the child is already born. In such a case the only relevant concern will be what is in the child's best interest. In the second part of the thesis the existing legal position is analysed. This includes an examination of the applicable legislation, the impact of the Constitution, the South African Law Commission's proposed bill on surrogate motherhood and the customary law. Although the relevant legislation does not specifically provide for surrogacy, it remains applicable. This is extremely problematic for the parties involved. The Bill of Rights is applicable to all law and binds the Legislature. Therefore the main principles of the Constitution will have to be embodied in the proposed regulatory Act. Although the Law Commission's proposed bill is a well formulated document, one shortcoming that has been identified is that it is not constitutionally justifiable. The customary law has several practices which are analogous to surrogacy. The right to culture, which is entrenched in the Constitution, has the effect that these practices cannot be outlawed. However, should it not be consistent with the Constitution, it can be held to be invalid. The conclusion which is reached is that surrogacy can be morally and constitutionally justifiable if it is regulated properly. It is therefore proposed that an Act be formulated to regulate these relevant issues. Such a proposed Act is included in part three of the thesis.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die moontlikheid om surrogaatmoederskap te reguleer as gevolg van die feit dat dit nou vir 'n vrou moontlik is om 'n kind, wat nie geneties aan haar verwant is nie, vir 'n ander te baar. Die reg maak nie spesifiek vir die regulering van surrogaatmoederskap voorsiening nie. Die kernprobleem in hierdie verband is dat die bestaande reg wel van toepassing daarop is, vanweë onder andere die feit dat surrogaatmoederskap teweeggebring word deur middel van kunsmatige bevrugting. Wetgewing wat kunsmatige bevrugting reguleer is gevolglik van toepassing, hoewel dit nie geskryf was met die oog op surrogaatmoederskap in die besonder nie. Die doel van die studie is gevolglik om te ondersoek hoe surrogaatmoederskap gereguleer kan word gegewe die bestaande regsposisie en relevante morele oorwegings. Die tesis kan in drie afdelings verdeel word. Die eerste bestaan uit 'n analise van die morele aspekte wat by surrogaatmoederskap ter sprake is. Dit is nodig om hierdie aangeleenthede te analiseer ten einde 'n voorgestelde wet moreel regverdigbaar te maak. Kommersiële surrogaatmoederskap, die genetiese band tussen ouer en kind, die verskille tussen surrogasie en aanneming, die vraag na die identiteit van die ouer en surrogaatmoederskap vir gerief word geanaliseer. Ten spyte van al die morele argumente wat gemaak kan word voordat 'n kind gebore is, is hierdie argumente van weinig belang waar die kind reeds gebore is. In so 'n geval is dit slegs die beste belang van die kind wat oorweeg moet word. Die bestaande regsposisie word in die tweede deel van die tesis ontleed. Dit sluit 'n ontleding van die relevante wetgewing, die oorweging van die impak van die Grondwet, 'n analise van die Suid-Afrikaanse Regskommissie se Voorgestelde Wetsontwerp op Surrogaatmoederskap en 'n evaluering van die inheemse reg in. Die gevolgtrekking wat gemaak word is dat die bestaande wetgewing nie uitdruklik vir surrogaatmoederskap voorsiening maak nie, maar wel daarop van toepassing kan wees. Dit veroorsaak verskeie probleme vir die betrokke partye. Die Grondwet het 'n drastiese impak op die regulering van surrogaatmoederskap en sal in ag geneem moet word indien 'n surrogaatmoederskapswet voorgestel word. Die Regskommissie se voorgestelde wetsontwerp is 'n goed geformuleerde dokument, maar moet aangepas word ten einde grondwetlik regverdigbaar te wees. Daar is verskeie gebruike in die inheemse reg wat analoog aan surrogaatmoederskap is. Die reg op kultuur, wat grondwetlik verskans is, het tot gevolg dat partye, op wie die inheemse reg van toepassing is, die reg het om hierdie gebruike na te volg. Indien die praktyke egter strydig met die Grondwet is, kan dit ongeldig verklaar word. Derdens word 'n wet voorgestelom surrogaatmoederskap te reguleer. Die gevolgtrekking waartoe gekom word, is dat surrogaatmoederskap moreel en grondwetlik regverdigbaar kan wees indien dit behoorlik gereguleer word.

This thesis seeks to demonstrate, by way of a multidisciplinary study, that consent is, despite its legal definition which refers to the free and enlighted expression of individual will, in fact, at times limited if not eliminated, by social considerations, arising from the medical, economic and legal context. These considerations reflect what one might call the social norm. An appropriate understanding of consent serves, therefore, to express the social norm as a constraint, which, in turn, acts as a measure of what it means to belong in society. Thus, while consent is often presented as the fundamental principle to be respected in biomedical research, it is in reality, merely one principle to respect among others. These limitations connected to consent are exacerbated in emergency situations where consent is sometimes reduced to mere signature, and in some cases it has been recognized that research can be undertaken without the subject's prior consent.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research project examines the concept and practice of whistle blowing with the aim of answering the fundamental question: when is whistle blowing morally justified or unjustified? While the different forms of whistle blowing receive attention, the focus is on the corporate world, or non-governmental whistle blowing. Whistle blowing in the corporate world has become a moral and strategic point of debate with the issue being how it can be employed as a mechanism against corruption and other forms of abuse in a way that is fair to employees, employers, and the public .. The project focuses on the moral justification of whistle blowing and the ethical framework within which it needs to function. The methodology used is that of an extensive literature study. The views of researchers' from different countries are discussed and analyzed, and the deontological and utilitarian approaches to ethical decision-making are used to arrive at deductive conclusions. It is concluded that from an ethical viewpoint, employees are morally obliged to blow the whistle to prevent potential harm to e.g. the public or the environment. Specific conditions must be satisfied, however, before whistle blowing against a corporation or employer can be regarded as morally justified. With reference to the views of researchers and a South African case study, it is established that whistle blowers need to be protected against retaliation from employers and that legislation in this regard has been lacking. An important mechanism to protect whistle blowers would be the introduction of laws to protect them against retaliatory actions such as dismissals or demotion. One of the aims of South Africa's Protected Disclosures Act (Act. No. 26, 2000) is to protect employees against any occupational detriment as a result of having blown the whistle in a manner consistent with the conditions outlined in the Act. It Is concluded that it is to the advantage of employers to promote a culture in which justified and responsible whistle blowing is encouraged and protected. Suggested ways to achieve this include developing an ethic of whistle blowing, involving unions, introducing rewards, instituting codes of ethics, and establishing specific complaint recipients within organizations. On the basis of a US case study and a study of relevant literature, it is concluded that employers and corporations also need to be protected against unethical whistle blowing. By laying down conditions that have to be met before an act of whistle blowing can be justified, the Protected Disclosures Act (Act No. 26, 2000) provides protection in this regard. The study concludes with a critical appraisal of the positive as well as the negative aspects of the Protected Disclosures Act. The Act provides the necessary legal framework and guidelines for fair and responsible whistle blowing with protection for both employees and employers, and as such could help to reduce crime and corruption in both the public and private sectors. In the South African context of high levels of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment, however, certain shortcomings are identified that may diminish the potential value of the Act.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsprojek ondersoek die konsep en praktyk van onthulling ("whistle blowing") met die doeI om die fundamentele vraag te beantvlloord: wanneer is onthulling moreel geregverdig of ongeregverdig? Hoewel daar gekyk word na die verskillende vorms wat onthulling kan aanneem is die fokus op die korporatiewe wêreld, of nieregeringsonthulling. Onthulling het in die korporatiewe wêreld 'n morele en strategiese besprekingspunt geword, met die strydvraag hoe dit as 'n meganisme teen korrupsie en ander skadelike praktyke aangewend kan word op 'n manier wat billik teenoor werknemers, werkgewers en die publiek is. Die projek fokus op die morele regverdiging van onthulling en die etiese raamwerk waarbinne dit moet funksioneer. Die metodologie behels 'n omvattende literatuurstudie. Die sienings van navorsers van verskillende lande word bespreek en ontleed, en die deontologiese en utilitaristiese benaderings tot etiese besluitneming word gebruik om deduktiewe afleidings te maak. Die gevolgtrekking is dat uit 'n etiese oogpunt, werknemers moreel verplig is om as onthulIers op te tree om potensiële skade vir bv. die publiek of die omgewing te voorkom. Daar moet egter aan spesifieke voorwaardes voldoen word voordat onthulling wat 'n korporasie of werkgewer benadeel, as moreel geregverdig beskou kan word. Met verwysing na die sienings van navorsers en 'n Suid-Afrikaanse gevallestudie word vasgestel dat onthulIers beskerm moet word teen wraakneming van werkgewers en dat wetgewing in hierdie verband ontbreek het. 'n Belangrike meganisme om onthulIers te beskerm sou wees die instelling van wette om beskerming te bied teen vergeldingsaksies van werkgewers soos ontslag of demosie. Een van die oogmerke van Suid-Afrika se Wet op Beskermde Bekendmakings (Wet. No. 26, 2000) is om werknemers te beskerm teen enige beroepsverwante nadeel as gevolg van 'n bekendmaking wat voldoen aan die voorwaardes wat in die Wet gestipuleer word. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat dit tot werkgewers se voordeel is om 'n kultuur te bevorder waar geregverdigde en verantvlloordelike onthulling aangemoedig en beskerm word. Voorgestelde wyses waarop dit gedoen kan word, sluit in die ontwikkeling van 'n onthullingsetiek, om vakbonde te betrek, die instelling van belonings, die aanneem van etiese kodes en om spesifieke klagte-ontvangers binne organisasies te vestig. Na aanleiding van 'n VSA-gevallestudie en 'n studie van tersaaklike literatuur word die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat werkgewers en korporasies ook teen onetiese onthulling beskerm moet word. Die Wet op Beskermde Bekendmakings (Wet No. 26, 2000) bied beskerming in hierdie verband deur voorwaardes te stipuleer waaraan 'n bekendmaking moet voldoen voordat dit geregverdig is. Die studie word afgesluit met 'n kritiese evaluasie van die positiewe sowel as die negatiewe aspekte van die Wet op Beskermde Bekendmakings. Die Wet stel die nodige wetlike raamwerk en riglyne vir billike en verantwoordelike onthulling daar met beskerming vir werknemers sowel as werkgewers, en as sulks kan dit help om misdaad en korrupsie in beide die openbare en die private sektor te laat afneem. In die Suid- Afrikaanse konteks van hoë vlakke van armoede, ongeletterdheid en werkloosheid word daar egter bepaalde gebreke geïdentifiseer wat die potensiële waarde van die Wet mag verminder.

Dans les matières dites techniques, auxquelles se rattachent les règles d'organisation et de fonctionnement du marché boursier, le droit pénal est utilisé comme une discipline accessoire, garantissant l'efficacité de ces réglementations. Cette approche emporte une déformation du droit pénal de fond et un recul de la protection normalement garantie par celui-ci, essentiellement par des atteintes au principe de la légalité criminelle et une instrumentalisation du mécanisme de la responsabilité pénale. Il en résulte que l'apport du droit pénal à la moralisation du marché boursier est limité aux exigences du procès équitable, l'assimilation des sanctions pécuniaires administratives à des peines ayant emporté leur soumission aux principes généraux qui gouvernent la matière pénale. Pourtant, quel que soit le champ de son intervention, le droit pénal demeure porteur de valeurs morales fondamentales. Il ne peut d'ailleurs contribuer à moraliser le marché boursier que dans la mesure où il est normatif. Le recours à la sanction pénale doit dès lors être limité à la répression de la ruse, matérialisée par la création ou l'exploitation d'une situation de déséquilibre entre les individus. Le droit pénal ne doit plus être au service de la régulation des marchés, mais voir son efficacité garantie par celle-ci. Loin d'être étrangère aux préoccupations de concurrence inhérentes au fonctionnement des marchés, cette approche contribuerait à la conciliation de la morale et de l'économie sur ceux-ci
In so-called technical subjects which relate to the rules of organisation and operation of the stock market, criminal law is used as an ancillary discipline, ensuring the effectiveness of these regulations. This approach leads to a distortion at the core of criminal law and adecline in the protection which is normally guaranteed by, essentially, violations of the principle of criminal law and a manipulation of the mechanism of criminal responsibility. As a result, the contribution of criminal law to the morality of the stock market is limited to therequirements of fair trial, the balance between administrative sanctions and penalties that have been achieved through abiding to the general principles that govern the criminal.Yet regardless of the scope of its intervention, the criminal law remains with its fundamentalmoral values. It can only contribute to the morality of the stock market by being normative.The use of the criminal sanctions must therefore be limited to the suppression of the ruse, aswitnessed by the creation or operation of a situation of imbalance between individuals. The criminal law should no longer be at the service of the regulation of markets, but see its efficiency guaranteed by it. Far from being foreign to the concerns of competition inherent tothe key components of the markets, this approach would lead to the reconciliation of morality and the economy of the markets themselves

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has been both contentious and successful. By examining the ICTY from a Levinasian ethical standpoint, we might be able to understand how the court uses language to enforce ethical and moral standards upon post-war societies. Using linguistic methods of analysis combined with traditional data about the ICTY, I empirically examine the court using ordinary least squares (OLS) in order to show the impact that language has upon the court's decision making process. I hypothesize that the court is an ethical entity, and therefore we should not see any evidence of bias against Serbs and that language will provide a robust view of the court as an ethical mechanism.

Scientific discoveries, developments in medicine and health issues are the constant focus of media attention and the principles surrounding the creation of so called ‘saviour siblings’ are of no exception. The development in the field of reproductive techniques has provided the ability to genetically analyse embryos created in the laboratory to enable parents to implant selected embryos to create a tissue-matched child who may be able to cure an existing sick child. The research undertaken in this thesis examines the regulatory frameworks overseeing the delivery of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in Australia and the United Kingdom and considers how those frameworks impact on the accessibility of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedures for the creation of ‘saviour siblings’. In some jurisdictions, the accessibility of such techniques is limited by statutory requirements. The limitations and restrictions imposed by the state in relation to the technology are analysed in order to establish whether such restrictions are justified. The analysis is conducted on the basis of a harm framework. The framework seeks to establish whether those affected by the use of the technology (including the child who will be created) are harmed. In order to undertake such evaluation, the concept of harm is considered under the scope of John Stuart Mill’s liberal theory and the Harm Principle is used as a normative tool to judge whether the level of harm that may result, justifies state intervention or restriction with the reproductive decision-making of parents in this context. The harm analysis conducted in this thesis seeks to determine an appropriate regulatory response in relation to the use of pre-implantation tissue-typing for the creation of ‘saviour siblings’. The proposals outlined in the last part of this thesis seek to address the concern that harm may result from the practice of pre-implantation tissue-typing. The current regulatory frameworks in place are also analysed on the basis of the harm framework established in this thesis. The material referred to in this thesis reflects the law and policy in place in Australia and the UK at the time the thesis was submitted for examination (December 2009).

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The controversy around the broadcasting of court proceedings has reigned in the United States since the 1950s, reaching a peak with the trial of O.J. Simpson, widely interpreted as an example of the destructive effect of a "media circus" on the administration of justice. In many other U.S. courtrooms, however, television and radio journalists do their work unobtrusively, professionally and to the benefit of their viewers and listeners. The King Commission of Inquiry into allegations of match-fixing in cricket gave South Africa its first experience of television and radio coverage of judicial proceedings, and lay the basis for a more liberal approach to electronic coverage of courts. The Constitution protects freedom of expression, including the freedom to receive and impart information. This has been interpreted by the High Court as conferring on radio journalists the freedom to record and broadcast the King Commission's proceedings. It is argued in this study that the High Court's reasoning could be applied with equal force to television, and to coverage of the courts. It is suggested a trial period of electronic coverage of courts, under clear guidelines for journalists and legal practitioners, may provide greater clarity on the desirability of allowing electronic coverage of courts on a permanent basis.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die netelige vraagstuk rondom die uitsaai van hofverrigtinge het alreeds in the vyftigerjare van die vorige eeu in die Verenigde State ontstaan. Die vervolging van O.J. Simpson was 'n hoogtepunt in die debat. Dié saak word gereeld voorgehou as 'n voorbeeld van die nadelige effek wat 'n "mediasirkus" op die regsproses kan uitoefen. Maar in baie ander Amerikaanse howe doen radio- en televisiejoernaliste hulle werk sonder steurnis, professioneel, en ten voordeel van hul luisteraars and kykers. The Kingkommissie van Ondersoek na beweringe van oneerlikheid in krieket was Suid-Afrika se eerste ervaring van elektroniese dekking van 'n regterlike proses, and kan moontlik die basis vorm vir 'n meer liberale benadering tot elektroniese dekking van howe. Die Grondwet waarborg vryheid van uitdrukking, insluitende die vryheid om inligting uit te stuur en te ontvang. Die Hooggeregshof het onlangs beslis hierdie vryheid beteken radiojoernaliste mag die verrigtinge van die Kingkommissie opneem en uitsaai. In hierdie studie word geargumenteer dat die Hooggeregshof se beslissing ook van toepassing kan wees op televisie, en op hofverrigtinge. Daar word voor die hand gedoen dat Suid- Afrikaanse howe vir 'n proeftydperk elekroniese dekking van hofverrigtinge toelaat, met streng reëls vir joernaliste en regspraktisyns. So 'n proefneming kan dalk groter duidelikheid verskaf oor die voor- en nadele van televisie- en radiodekking van howe op 'n permanente basis.

In this thesis, the author studies the ethical and legal aspects of research conducted on stored tissue samples of deceased persons in North America.
The first part of this thesis presents an overview of what constitutes human tissues and how are they used in research. The author describes the process in which human tissues are acquired and stored by health facilities, their utility for scientific research, and currently used techniques.
The second part is dedicated to the analysis of the current normative framework associated with research involving human tissue samples in North America. The author underlines the presence of two different normative regimes depending on whether the human tissues were removed before or after death. Finally, the author examines international documents in order to evaluate whether or not they can provide guidance to North American national legislation.
The third part evaluates the normative limitations associated with the use of stored tissue samples of deceased persons for research. The author considers that these limitations are related to the presence of conflicting interests, the difficulties in establishing rights over human tissues, the difficulties of establishing the rights of the dead, and the limitations of the theory of informed consent with regards to stored tissue samples.
The last part of this thesis suggests that stored human tissues should be interpreted as if they were part of an individual's medical record. After presenting some of the philosophical arguments in favour of such an interpretation, the author underlines the presence of legal precedents supporting the "tissue as information" model. The author finally examines the legal implications and the potential limitations of this proposal.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: AIDS is the most important threat to world health. Recent years have seen a dramatic spread of HIVand AIDS in South Africa. Health education directed at modifying risk behaviour appears to be the only way in which the disease can be contained. Controlling AIDS is not only by controlling the virus, but also involves tackling social, economic and political issues and putting AIDS into the broader context of sexuality and gender roles. This requires a broader understanding of this aspect of HIV-AIDS ranging from population dynamics, through to research on individual behaviour and its socio-economic impact; so that we can dispel the myths and rumours that surround AIDS and answer searching questions that will be asked by the community. In South Africa, HIV-AIDS remains a stigmatized disease. There have been calls from courageous and influential people for those who are living with HIV-AIDS to be open about their status and to destigmatise the disease. Institutions too have been drawn into the controversy about whether to remain silent or speak out. Southern African Anglican bishops, as well as some politicians declared their intention to undergo testing for HIV status in order to sensitise the public to the seriousness of the epidemic. Were AIDS not regarded as intolerable, the entire issue of confidentiality would fall away. Calls to destigmatise the disease through openness cannot stand alone. Government must put effective treatment programmes in place. In the absence of treatment, AIDS may represent only frustration and hopelessness to those who test positive; and fear, danger and resultant animosity to those who are HIV negative. The text is in four chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on confidentiality as an important principle in the management of disease. In HIV -AIDS, confidentiality is a more sensitive issue as AIDS is particularly viewed as a social stigma, accompanied by discrimination and harassment. The chapter also addresses HIV infection, transmission, counseling and screemng. Chapter 2 deals with the principles of biomedical ethics namely, autonomy, to enable the patient to determine his/her course of treatment; informed consent, designed to protect the interests of patients from exploitation and harm, and encourage health professionals to act responsibly; beneficence and nonmaleficence, to protect the welfare of others; and justice, to ensure access to health care for all. It also highlights the aspects of and limitations to confidentiality. Chapter 3 discusses broadly the ethical dilemmas pertammg to professional-patient relationships, women and HIV-AIDS, religion, prisoners and employer-employee relationships. When the AIDS epidemic started, very few people suffered from the disease, and the disease was treated with great caution and confidentiality. Today, AIDS is a pandemic and emphasis should shift from the ethic of autonomy and confidentiality, to a social ethic, which emphasizes the responsibility of minimizing the risk of spread of infection. The chapter also examines the role of the Department of Health, the participation of health professional bodies and the legal aspects relating to confidentiality in HIV-AIDS. Chapter 4 attempts to construct an argument to destigmatise HIV-AIDS by arguing the responsibility of the government to make sufficient resources available for the treatment and control of the pandemic. Health professionals are challenged to engage their expertise and skills in the service of the sick with dignity and respect. The community is encouraged to support the drive towards controlling the spread of HIV infection and enable people living with AIDS to disclose their status without fear of harassment.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vigs is die gevaarlikste bedreiging van wéreldgesondheid. Die afgelope paar jaar het 'n dramatiese verspreiding van mv en VIGS in Suid-Afrika plaasgevind. Gesondheidsopvoeding wat gemik is op die verandering van risiko-gedrag is skynbaar die enigste metode wat die siekte kan beheer. Die kontrolering van VIGS is nie net die kontrolering van die virus nie, maar dit betref ook herbesinning oor sosiale, ekonomiese en politiese en geslagsrolle. Dit vereis 'n omvattender verstaan van hierdie aspek van HIV-VIGS, wat strek vanaf van bevolkingspatrone tot by die navorsing oor individuele gedrag en die sosio-ekonomiese impak van 19. So kan ons hopelik help om die mites rondom VIGS te besweer. In Suid-Afrika bly mV-VIGS 'n gestigmatiseerde siekte. Daar rus 'n veranbtwoordelikheid op invloedryke mense wat met mV-VIGS leef en wat as rolmodelle sou kon dien, om hul mv -status te openbaar en sodoeonde te help om die siekte te destigmatiseer. Instansies is ook by hierdie twispunt betrek om vas te stelof die mense moet praat of swyg. Suider-Afrikaanse Anglikaanse Biskoppe, asook somige politici het hulle intensies aangekondig om die mv -toets te ondergaan om sodoende die publiek te help opvoed oor die gevaar van hierdie epidemie. Oproepe om die siekte te destigmatiseer deur openbaarheid kan nie in isolasie funksioneer nie. Die staat moet effektiewe kuratiewe en voorkomingsprogramme hier rondom loods en kontinueer. In die afwesigheid van 'n geneesmiddel, sal VIGS slegs frustrasie, hopeloosheid, en vrees skep by diegene wat positief getoets is, sowel as vyandigheid onder diegene wat nie mv positief is nie. Die teks het vier hoofstukke. Hoofstuk 1 fokus op vertroulikheid as 'n belangrike beginsel in die bestuur van die siekte. In mV-VIGS is vertroulikheid 'n meer sensitiewe beginsel aangesien VIGS in die besonder as 'n sosiale skandvlek, aangevreet deur diskriminasie, gesien word. Die hoofstuk bespreek ook mv -infeksie, transmissie, raadgewing en toetsing. Hoofstuk 2 gaan oor die beginsels van die biomediese etiek, naamlik, outonomie, waaronder ingeligte toetstemming, ontwerp om die belange van die pasiente te beskerm teen eksploitasie en gevaar: om gesondheids professionele aan te moedig om hulle op 'n verantwoordelike manier te gedra. Ander beginsels is goedwilligheid en niekwaadwiligheid om die welsyn van ander te beskerm, asook geregtigheid, om toegang tot gesondheidshulp vir almal te verseker. Dit beklemtoon ook die aspekte verwant aan beperkinge tot vertroulikheid. Hoofstuk 3 bespreek breedweg die etiese dilemmas met betrekking tot die verhouding tussen pasiënye en professionele gesondheidswerkers, vrouens en mV-VIGS, godsdiens, gevangenes en werkgewer-werker verhoudings. Toe die VIGS-epidemie begin het, het min mense aan die siekte gely, en die siekte is met groot sorg en vertroulikheid behandel. Vandag is VIGS 'n pandemie en die klem moet geskuif word vanaf outonomie en vetrouilikheid na 'n sosiale etos wat verantwoordlikheid en die vermindering van die risiko van die verspreiding van die infeksie beklemtoon. Die hoofstuk kyk ook na die rolle van gesondheidsdepartmente, deelname van gesondheids professionele organisasies en die juridiese aspekte met betrekking tot vertroulikheid van HIV-VIGS. Hoofstuk 4 poog om 'n argument te ontwikkel wat daartoe sou kon bydra dat HIV-VIGS gedestigmatiseer sal word. Klem word gelê op die verabtwoordelikheid van die staat om soveel moontlike bronne beskikbaar te stel vir die behandeling van en beheer oor hierdie pandemie. Gesondheids professionele word uitgedaag om hulle deskundigheid en bekwaamheid in die diens van die siekes met waardigheid en respek te gebruik. Die gemeenskap word aangemoedig om die poging tot die beheer van die verspreiding van die HIV -infeksie te ondersteun en om die mense wat met VIGS leef in staat te stelom hul status sonder die dreigement van stigmatisering bekend te maak.

Thesis (LLM)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The monitoring of electronic communication is likely to face all employers sooner or later. The rapid advancement in technology aimed at helping to monitor electronic communication, makes it easier than ever before for employers to monitor the electronic communications of their employees. There are important questions to consider when dealing with the topic of monitoring electronic communication. Examples include "mayan employer legally monitor electronic communications?" and "how does monitoring affect the employee's right to privacy?" This thesis is an attempt to answer these and other related questions by analysing, inter alia, South African legislation, the Constitution and case law, as well as comparing the law as it applies in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The analysis and conclusion offered in this thesis aim to provide theoretical consideration to academics and practical application for employers that are faced with the reality of monitoring electronic communications.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alle werkgewers sal waarskynlik die een of ander tyd met die monitering van elektroniese kommunikasie gekonfronteer word. Die snelle voortuitgang in tegnologie wat daarop gemik is om te help met die monitering van elektroniese kommunikasie, maak dit vir werkgewers makliker as ooit tevore om sodanige kommunikasies van hulle werknemers te monitor. Daar is egter belangrike vrae wat oorweeg moet word wanneer die onderwerp van monitering van elektroniese kommunikasie ter sprake kom. Voorbeelde hiervan is "mag 'n werknemer regtens elektroniese kommunikasies monitor?" en "hoe raak monitering die werknemer se reg tot privaatheid?" Hierdie tesis is 'n poging om hierdie en ander verwante vrae te beantwoord deur die ontleding van, onder andere, Suid-Afrikaanse wetgewing, die Grondwet en die reg soos deur hofuitsprake ontwikkel, sowel as vergelyking van die reg soos wat dit van toepassing is in die Verenigde Koninkryk en die Verenigde State van Amerika. Die ontleding en gevolgtrekking wat in hierdie tesis aangebied word, is gemik op die verskaffing van teoretiese oorweging aan akademici en praktiese toepassing vir werkgewers wat met die realiteit van die monitering van elektroniese kommunikasies gekonfronteer word.

The success of the online adult industry has provoked a public policy controversy over the need for internet censorship, and in recent times there has emerged desire to protect minors from possibly unsuitable content. On January 1st 2000, the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Online Services) Act (Cwlth, 1999) (BSA) was proclaimed. The Act purports to regulate and control Internet content in Australia. Operating in tandem with the Act is the Internet Industry Association Code of Practice, giving Australia a co-regulatory approach to Internet content control. The Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) is charged with implementing the regime. This study sets out examine the Internet content control problem in the Australian context. The political issues surrounding the topic of Internet censorship and the lack of reliable operational statistics, revealed the difficulty of estimating the effectiveness of the current control regime. Pivotal questions for the study concerned the scope and scale of content control in the Australian context and trends in hosting. This study used website typology, as defined by data topology and data topography, to examine the scope and scale of the content control task, and the implications for the effectiveness of the BSA. It was expected that if the BSA was to have an impact, that a discernible change in user download behaviour should ensue. This study used information provided by the adult Internet Content Provider (ICP) industry to gauge the BSA's impact-on user download behaviour as a measure of the control regime’s effectiveness. It was suggested by some observers that the so-called 'data deficit' between Australia and the US would be exacerbated by the new content control regime, with possible negative implications for the conduct of e-commerce in Australia generally. A study of Australian adult website hosting arrangements and data topography was conducted to examine the implications of the control regime for the "data deficit'. This study suggests that most Australian online adult content is in fact hosted in the US. The reasons for offshore hosting are almost totally financial and pre-date the introduction of the Broadcasting Services Act (Online Services) Amendment Act 1999. The study also suggests that any effect on the 'data deficit' should be minimal, and that the typology of adult content websites in such that the current co-regulatory regime may prove ineffective in controlling access to adult content.

Privilege is an evidential principle which, on the grounds of public policy, excludes evidence relevant and otherwise admissible. This thesis aims to discover whether privilege should be applied to the psychotherapeutic profession in South Africa. At present, the only profession in South Africa afforded privilege is the legal profession. There are two main theoretical justifications for privilege: the utilitarian and the individual/human rights approach. This thesis considers whether the psychotherapeutic profession wan-ants privilege under either theory, and recommends that the law of privilege integrate both theories rather than adopt one or the other. The impact of the Constitution and the right to privacy receive particular attention. Very little literature or case law on the question of psychotherapeutic privilege was found in South Africa. Consequently, extensive comparative research into the common-law systems of England, Canada and United States of America was done. This research yielded some interesting findings. The first is that case-by-case development of the law of privilege is uncel1ain and fragmented. The next is that psychotherapeutic privilege exists in almost absolute form in the United States of America, but is littered with lacunae causing as much uncertainty as the case-by-case approach to privilege law. The most helpful method of dealing with the problem was found in Canada, where a two-stage approach to protecting personal information, including psychotherapeutic records, has been developed. In light of this research, this thesis reassesses the original viability of psychotherapeutic privilege in South Africa. Privilege, it was found, is not the best solution to protecting psychotherapeutic communications. This thesis recommends legislative adoption of an amended two-stage approach based on the Canadian model for sexual offence trials as the best method of protecting psychotherapeutic communications in both civil and criminal proceedings. The thesis ends by suggesting draft legislative provisions.

Thesis (LLD (Public Law))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The unique and intimate relationship that exists between a medical practitioner and his/her client is possibly one of the most important relationships that can come into being between any two people. This relationship is characterised and influenced by the qualities and attributes specific to the nature and historical development of medical care, as well as medical science in general. The doctor-patient relationship is also influenced by the social dynamics of a particular community, environmental factors, technological advances and the general social and commercial evolution of the human race. With regard to medical care and health service delivery, the doctor-patient relationship is furthermore vital to the quality of the care provided, as well as to the outcomes and relative success of the specific medical intervention or treatment. One of the distinct characteristics of the doctor-patient relationship is the power imbalance inherent in this relationship. The medical practitioner has expert knowledge and skill, while the patient finds himself or herself in an unusually dependent and vulnerable position. It is because of this important role that the doctor-patient relationship still plays in health service delivery today; the susceptibility of the relationship to a variety of influences, and the characteristic power imbalances inherent in this relationship, that a study of the doctor-patient relationship in South African medical- and health law is necessary. The characteristic power imbalances will be considered from a legal perspective in this dissertation. This study provides a comprehensive source of the doctor-patient relationship from a legal perspective. Where relevant, references are made to theories and principles from other disciplines, including sociology, economy and medical ethnomethodology. The prevalence and consequences of power imbalances in the doctor-patient relationship are identified and discussed with the aim of bringing these to the attention of both the legal fraternity, and medical practitioners. Specific problem areas are identified and solutions are offered, including the following: • The adverse consequences of power imbalances inherent in the doctor-patient relationship on the medical decision-making process are considered from various perspectives. With regard to these adverse consequences, the doctrine of informed consent is analysed and evaluated in great detail. • The influence of paternalistic notions in health service delivery; the business model of health service delivery and the effects of managed care and consumer-directed health care on the doctor-patient relationship and health service delivery in general are also analysed from a legal perspective, and specifically with regard to the power imbalances inherent in this relationship. • The role of autonomy, self-determination and dignity, as well as the principles of beneficence in medical practice, are reconsidered in an attempt to provide a solution for redressing the power imbalances inherent in the doctor-patient relationship. • The fiduciary nature of the doctor-patient relationship and the special role of trust in the relationship are emphasised throughout the dissertation as the focal point of departure in the doctor-patient relationship and the main constituent in any legal endeavor to redress the power imbalances inherent in it.
AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Die unieke en intieme verhouding wat bestaan tussen ‘n mediese praktisyn en ‘n pasiënt is wêreldwyd waarskynlik een van die belangrikste verhoudings wat tussen twee persone tot stand kan kom. Hierdie verhouding word gekenmerk en beïnvloed deur kwaliteite en eienskappe eie aan die besonderse aard en historiese ontwikkeling van gesondheidsorg, sowel as die mediese wetenskap in die algemeen. Die dokter-pasiënt verhouding word verder beïnvloed deur die sosiale dinamika van ‘n bepaalde gemeenskap, omgewingsfaktore, tegnologiese vooruitgang en die algemene sosiale en kommersiële ontwikkeling van die mensdom. Op die terrein van gesondheidsorg en mediese dienslewering is die dokter-pasiënt verhouding voorts ook sentraal tot die kwaliteit van die mediese sorg wat verskaf word, sowel as die uitkomste en relatiewe sukses van die spesifieke mediese behandeling. Een van die kenmerkende eienskappe van die dokter-pasiënt verhouding is die magswanbalans wat daar tussen dokter en pasiënt bestaan. Die mediese praktisyn beskik oor deskundige kennis en vaardighede, terwyl die pasiënt hom- of haarself in ‘n ongewone, afhanklike en kwesbare posisie bevind. Dit is dan veral weens die besondere rol wat hierdie verhouding steeds in hedendaagse gesondheidsorg speel, die beïnvloedbaarheid van hierdie verhouding deur ‘n verskeidenheid faktore, sowel as die kenmerkende magswanbalans inherent in die verhouding, dat ‘n ondersoek na die dokter-pasiënt verhouding in die Suid-Afrikaanse mediese reg noodsaaklik is. Hierdie kenmerkende magswanbalans sal vanuit ‘n regsperspektief verder in hierdie proefskrif ondersoek word. Hierdie studie bied ‘n omvattende bron van die dokter-pasiënt verhouding benader vanuit ‘n regsperspektief, terwyl verwysings na teorieë en beginsels van ander dissiplines soos die sosiologie, ekonomie en mediese etnometodologie ook waar nodig ingesluit word. Die voorkoms en gevolge van ‘n magswanbalans in die dokter-pasiënt verhouding word verder geïdentifiseer en bespreek ten einde dit onder die aandag te bring van beide regslui en medici. Spesifieke probleemareas wat geïdentifiseer is en die oplossings wat daarvoor aan die hand gedoen is sluit die volgende in: • Die nadelige gevolge van die bestaan van ‘n magswanbalans in die dokter-pasiënt verhouding op die mediese-besluitnemingsproses word bespreek vanuit verskillende persepktiewe. Met betrekking tot hierdie nadelige gevolge, word die leerstuk van ingeligte toestemming in besonder geanaliseer en geëvalueer. • Die invloed van ‘n paternalistiese benadering tot gesondheidsorg, die besigheids-model van gesondheidsorg, en die effek van bestuurde- en verbruikersgedrewe gesondheidsorg inisiatiewe op die dokter-pasiënt verhouding en die verskaffing van gesondheidsdienste in die algemeen word ook vanuit ‘n regsperspektief ge-analiseer. Spesifieke aandag word in dié verband gegee aan die invloede van hierdie benaderings en perspektiewe op die magswanbalans inherent aan die dokter-pasiënt verhouding. • Die besondere rol van autonomie, selfbeskikking en menswaardigheid, asook die beginsels van weldadigheid in gesondheidsorg, word heroorweeg in ‘n poging om ‘n meer gelyke distribusie van mag in die dokter-pasiënt verhouding te verseker. • Die fidusiêre aard van die dokter-pasiënt verhouding en die besondere rol wat vertroue in hierdie verhouding speel, word in hierdie proefskrif beklemtoon en word voorts as die basis van die dokter-pasiënt verhouding beskou. Vertroue, as ‘n kenmerk van die dokter-pasiënt verhouding, behoort ook die fokuspunt te wees van enige poging om die magswanbalans in die dokter-pasiënt verhouding aan te spreek.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The implementation of eugenic policies reached its peak during the zo" century when thousands of people with intellectual disabilities and other "undesirable qualities" were involuntary sterilized. Although most of the eugenic policies have been removed, countries such as South Africa, still make legally provision for the involuntary sterilization of people with intellectual disabilities. Torbjërn Tannsjë (1998) used the "argument from autonomy" to argue that involuntary sterilization practices are wrong because it involves compulsion. According to him, society should never interfere with people's reproductive choices and people should never be required to qualify for the right to have children. The aim of this assignment was to systematically assess the "argument from autonomy" as far as the policy of involuntary sterilization of people with intellectual disabilities is concerned. To this end, the concept of autonomy and the principle of respect for autonomy are discussed and applied to the intellectually disabled. It is argued that autonomy and respect for autonomy are useful concepts to apply to some people with intellectual disabilities. These individuals should not be automatically assumed to be incompetent, but their competence needs to be determined on an individual level, with reference to the complexity of the decision to be made. Special effort is needed from health care professionals to obtain (where possible) informed consent from people with intellectual disabilities. The application of the principle of respect for autonomy to matters of reproduction leads to the conclusion that people with severe to profound levels of disability, are unable to provide informed consent for sexual intercourse. Therefore some form of paternalistic protection is needed for these individuals. People with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities who are however competent to consent to sexual intercourse should never be prohibited from procreation by means of involuntary sterilization. State interference in matters of reproduction should be limited to interventions where (i) children are seriously harmed by parents and (ii) to protect those who are incompetent to consent to sexual interactions with others. Apart from these exceptions, the intellectually disabled is entitled to the same procreative rights as all other citizens.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die implementering van eugenetiese beleid het gedurende die 20 ste eeu 'n hoogtepunt bereik met die onwillekeurige sterilisering van duisende persone met intellektuele gestremdhede en ander "ongewensde kwaliteite". Alhoewel meeste van die eugenetiese wetgewing verwyder is, maak lande soos Suid-Afrika steeds wetlik voorsiening vir die onwillekeurige sterilisasie van persone met intellektuele gestremdhede. Torbjërn Tannsjo (1998) maak gebruik van die "outonomie argument" om te argumenteer dat onwillekeurige sterilisasie praktyke onaanvaarbaar is omdat dit dwang bevat. Hy voer aan dat die samelewing nooit in die reproduktiewe keuses van mense behoort in te meng nie en dat dit nooit vir mense nodig moet wees om vir ouerskap te kwalifiseer nie. Die doel van hierdie werkstuk was om sistematies die "outonomie argument" te analiseer ten opsigte van die beleid van die onwillekeurige sterilisasie van persone met intellektuele gestremdhede. Met hierdie doel voor oë word die konsep outonomie en die beginsel van respek vir outonomie bespreek en toegepas op die intellektueel gestremde persoon. Daar word aangevoer dat outonomie en respek vir outonomie nuttige beginsels is om in ag te neem in kwessies rakende intellektueel gestremdes. Hierdie individue moet nie outomaties as onbevoeg beskou word nie, maar hul bevoegdheid moet eerder op 'n individuele basis beoordeel word, inaggeneem die kompleksiteit van die besluit wat geneem moet word. Voorts word daar van gesondheidsorgpersoneel verwag om moeite te doen met die verkryging van oorwoê toestemming (waar moontlik) by persone met intellektuele gestremdhede. Die toepassing van die beginsel van respek vir outonomie op aspekte rakende reproduksie, lei tot die gevolgtrekking dat persone met ernstige intellektuele gestremdhede nie in staat is om toestemming tot seksuele omgang te verleen nie. Dus, is 'n vorm van paternalistiese beskerming in hierdie gevalle aangedui. Persone met intellektuele gestremdhede wat egter wel bevoeg is om toestemming tot seksuele omgang te verleen, moet nooit weerhou word van voortplanting deur middel van onwillekeurige sterilisering nie. Inmenging deur die staat in kwessies rakende reproduksie moet beperk word tot intervensies waar (i) kinders ernstige skade berokken word en (ii) die beskerming van persone wat onbevoeg is om toestemming tot seksuele interaksies met ander te verleen, benodig word. Afgesien hiervan, is die intellektuele gestremde persoon geregtig op dieselfde reproduktiewe regte as alle ander landsburgers.

This dissertation assesses how Islamic finance fares as an example of 'civil compromise' in Islamic law. By focusing on the Islamic project finance sector, my research examines how the industry's main stakeholders (representing faith, capital, and power) cooperate and compete to bring about this compromise through the 'Game of Islamic Bank Bargains'. The Islamic finance industry is a work in progress, and while it has made some significant strides, it is still a niche in the global conventional financial order rather than an alternative to it. It has fallen short of fulfilling its originally-stated social justice aspirations, but has provided a previously unavailable form of banking and finance for Muslims to transact, at least formalistically, in accordance with widely-believed tenets of their faith. Thus, those who hold up Islamic finance as a universal panacea or dismiss it outright as a fraud have both got it wrong. It is neither. It is, rather, a complex myriad of incentives and aspirations of a multitude of stakeholders muddled together across numerous geographies and evolving incrementally and constantly. The state of the industry is the result of how the stakeholders (the shariah scholars, lawyers, bankers, government officials, and customers) have pursued their self-interest in the Game of Islamic Bank Bargains. My research examines who are the 'winners' and 'losers' of this game, and what religious, commercial, and political factors have influenced this outcome. I assess what may incentivise the incumbent 'winners' to guide the Islamic finance industry away from a formal and legalistic approach towards one that also incorporates principles from Islamic economics. I explore how the 'losers' - whose interests are not accounted for due to their lack of sufficient financial and political clout - can sway the outcome of the game in their favour.

Orientador: Ronaldo Romulo Machado de Almeida
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas
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Resumo: A presente dissertação busca rastrear o contradiscurso acerca da experimentação animal no sentido de elucidá-lo enquanto um movimento social. Toma como foco o trâmite da Lei Arouca, de recente aprovação no Congresso Nacional para regulamentar a vivissecção em todo território nacional. A partir desta lei o olhar se volta aos atores sociais envolvidos e às forças políticas conflitantes para esta questão de controvérsia científica. Paralelamente, outras manifestações práticas do contradiscurso serão seguidas a fim de enriquecer o material de análise para colocar em evidência os argumentos que concorrem para a construção simbólica do estatuto do animal de laboratório. Porém, não será perdido de vista o caráter mais amplo no qual o movimento antivivisseccionista está inserido, a saber, a luta contra a exploração dos animais não-humanos
Abstract: This dissertation intends to follow the counter-discourse on animal experimentation in order to elucidate it as a social movement. It is focused on the processing of Arouca Law, recently passed the Congress to regulate vivisection nationwide. From this law, the focus is on the social actors involved and the political conflicting forces for this matter of scientific controversy. In parallel, other practical manifestations of counter-discourse will be followed in order to enrich the material for analysis to highlight the arguments that contribute to the symbolic status of laboratory animals. However, the broader nature in which the antivivisection movement is inserted, namely the fight against the exploitation of nonhuman animals, will not be lost
Mestrado
Antropologia Social
Mestre em Antropologia Social

Thesis (MPhil (Political Science))--University 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation’s primary focus is why torture is used when torture is not an effective means of gathering intelligence. To answer this question the argument for the use of torture, commonly known as the ticking time bomb argument, is discussed. Due to psychological and physiological processes during torture interrogation it was found that torture cannot be relied upon to deliver truthful information. Torture was also found to adversely affect the institutions that are needed for its establishment. After torture has been found to be of no utility in terms of the appropriation of information the question of why torture is still used is answered by means of discussing societal dynamics as well as the political process surrounding torture. On the societal front it was found that American public opinion towards torture is ambivalent. The reason for this includes a host of socio-psychological factors such as the in-group out-group bias as well the War on Terror as a political ideology in its own right. The notion that anybody is likely to torture is also explored by means of discussing the Milgram’s Obedience Experiment as well as the Stanford Prison Experiment. On the political front the notion that the abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay were the work of a few bad apples is dispelled since it formed part of a deliberative political process that tried to make torture a legitimate foreign policy measure. The reason for the existence of this process is the failure of international and domestic checks and balances. On the international front U.S. unilateralism as foreign policy principle is cited as the reason for the ineffectiveness of international measures to stop torture. On the domestic front the permanent rally around the flag effect due to the permanent state of mobilization in the War on Terror is cited as the reason for the failure of domestic checks and balances. The lessons learnt from the research enables the creation of measures on how to stop torture even when it is found that the necessary political will is not present within the Obama administration. In the absence of political will it must be manufactured by means of the actions of civil society, the free press and the international community. It was found that the most effective means would be the creation of a committee of inquiry to create the political memory of the use of torture and how it was established. Additionally a memorial must be erected as well seeing that inquiries create political memories but they do not sustain it.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis se fokus is om na te vors waarom marteling gebruik word as dit nie ‘n effektiewe wyse is om inligting in te win nie. Om hierdie vraagstuk te beantwoord word die argument vir die gebruik van marteling naamlik die tikkende-tydbom-argument bespreek. Asgevolg van sielkundige en fisiologiese prosesse tydens ondervragings wat gebruik maak van marteling kan daar nie op marteling staatgemaak word om die waarheid op te lewer nie. Dit was ook bevind dat marteling die instansies, wat nodig is vir die gebruik daarvan, op ‘n negatiewe wyse beïnvloed. Nadat daar vasgestel is dat marteling geen nutswaarde aangaande die inwinning van informasie bied nie word die vraagstuk waarom marteling steeds gebruik word beantwoord. Op die samelewingsvlak kan daar gestel word dat die Amerikaanse samelewing onseker is oor of marteling gebruik moet word al dan nie. Verskeie redes vir hierdie opinie word aangevoer waarvan die in-group out-group bias en die Oorlog teen Terreur as politieke ideologie slegs twee daarvan uitmaak. Dat enige persoon in staat is tot marteling onder die regte stel omstandighede word ook bespreek na aanleiding van die Milgram’s Obedience Experiement en die Stanford Prison Experiment. Op die politiese vlak is daar vasgestel dat die menseregteskendings in Abu Ghraib en Guantanamo Bay nie die werk was van slegs `n paar indiwidue was nie, maar deel uitmaak van ‘n doelbewuste politiese proses wat marteling as ‘n legitieme buitelandse beleidskwessie wil afmaak. Die rede waarom die beleidsproses bestaan kan toegeskryf word aan die mislukking van inter- en intranasionale wigte en teenwigte. Op die internasionale vlak kan daar gestel word dat die Verenigde State se unilateralistiese modus operandi die rede is vir die mislukking van internasionale maatreëls teen marteling. Op die intranasionale front kan daar gestel word dat die Amerikaanse publiek verkeer in ‘n permanent rally around the flagtoestand asgevolg van die permanent mobilisasie in die Oorlog teen Terreur. Uit die lesse wat geleer is uit die navorsing kan daadwerklike stappe gedoen word om die gebruik van marteling stop te sit alhoewel die Obama-administrasie se politiese wil ontbreek. Met die tekort aan politiese wil moet die politiese wil geskep word deur die burgerlik samelewing, the vrye pers asook die internasionale gemeenskap. Daar was gevind dat die mees effektiewe wyse om marteling stop te sit sal deurmiddel van ‘n kommissie van ondersoek wees. Die kommissie se doel sal wees om te bepaal hoe marteling tot stand gekom het en ‘n politiese herinnering te skep. Daar moet ook ‘n bykomende maatreël wees, naamlik die oprigting van ‘n monument aangesien kommissies van ondersoek politiese herinneringe skep maar nie in stand hou nie.

Why has international society been unable to develop political and judicial collective-security arrangements to limit external aggression? The thesis argues that efforts to limit aggression in moral and legal theory have created an unjust order in which great powers have used these theoretical traditions to reinforce their power in the global order. The thesis argues that is not a new development but can be found in one of the oldest traditions of moral reflection on war, the just war tradition. To substantiate this point, the thesis critically surveys the philosophers of the ancient Greek, Roman, Medieval Christian Renaissance, and early modern theorists of just war and demonstrates that their just war ideas contain assumptions about exclusion, identity and power reflecting their cultural superiority which underlie the practices and theories of the leading states and justifications of their aggressive wars. The thesis connects these moral reflections to the emergence of modern international law and the European pluralist international society of states based on mutual respect for sovereignty and the norm of non-intervention, highlighting how justifications of its colonial aggression against non-Europeans established an unjust solidarist order against them which persists in the post-Cold War era. To conclude it presents suggestions for improvement in the current pluralist international arrangements to address the issue of aggression.

Defence date: 28 May 2015
Examining Board: Professor Dennis Patterson, European University Institute (Supervisor); Professor Hans-W. Micklitz, European University Institute; Professor Neil Walker, University of Edinburgh; Professor George Pavlakos, University of Antwerp
2016 recipient of the Mauro Cappelletti Prize for the Best Thesis in Comparative Law.
The thesis explores the metaethical foundations of value-based arguments in constitutional adjudication. The main argument develops in four steps. First, the thesis identifies three dominant types of value-based arguments in comparative constitutional practice: the argument from constitutional identity, the argument from common sentiments, and the argument from universal reason. Second, it brings to the fore the assumptions about the nature of moral value implicit in these arguments and subjects them to a critique. The thesis maintains that these arguments presuppose inadequate conceptions of value and fail as self-standing approaches to moral judgment. Third, the thesis develops an account of moral value and explains its practical consequences. It argues that a credible understanding of value suggests that the appropriate moral judgment emerges from the dynamics between practical confidence, which denotes the inescapability of the self and of the contingent evaluative attitudes it entails, and reflection, which denotes the process of challenging and questioning these attitudes. Fourth, departing from this conception of value, the thesis reconstructs the existing value-based arguments of constitutional courts. It applies the ethics of confidence and reflection to constitutional reasoning and shows how the arguments from constitutional identity, common sentiments and universal reason can be combined to refashion the moral perspective of a constitutional court so that it coheres with a sound understanding of value. The thesis argues that the moral inquiry of the constitutional court ought to depart from the emotive intuitions of the constitutional community and then challenge these intuitions through reflective exposure to different perspectives in order to better understand and develop the underlying constitutional identity. The thesis contends that this model enables us to perceive some common constitutional dilemmas in new light and allows us to move forward in resolving them.