HIPPOCRATIC OBLIGATION TO SHAREHOLDER PROFIT? MEDICAL TREATMENT PATENTS AND THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH COURT IN APOTEX PTY LTD v SANOFI-AVENTIS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD [2013] HCA 50.

The article discusses the High Court of Australia's ruling in the 2013 case Apotex Pty. Ltd. v. Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty. Ltd. which deals with medical treatment patents, the disease psoriasis, and Australia's patent laws. A medical practitioner's ethical obligations to patients are assessed in relation to a requirement to maximize profits for shareholders in companies which hold medical patents. Australia's Patents Act 1990 (Cth) and Investor-State Dispute Settlement clauses are examined.