[Between dignity and the market. An objectionable decision of the European Court of Justice, concerning aspects of judicial and bioethical interest].

The author discusses the fifth argument of the ruling handed down by the European Court of Justice on 9 October 2001 and focuses on two aspects in particular: gene patenting and gene sequencing, on the one hand, and, secondly, consent given by a donor in the case of research involving parts or products of his/her body and leading to patentable inventions. The author also reviews the repercussions on the right to personal integrity of consent given freely and with full knowledge of the facts by the donor and recipient.