Maxwell J. Mehlman

Maxwell J. Mehlman serves as Distinguished University Professor and Arthur E. Petersilge Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he also co-directs the Law-Medicine Center. Additionally, he holds a professorship in the Department of Bioethics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. His dual appointments bridge the critical intersection of law, medicine, and ethics.

Dr. Mehlman earned his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1975 and holds two bachelor's degrees—one in Political Science from Reed College (1970) and another in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University (1972), where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. Before joining the Case Western Reserve faculty in 1984, he practiced law with Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C., specializing in federal regulation of health care and medical technology.

Mehlman's research spans the complex terrain where medical practice, legal frameworks, and ethical considerations converge. His work focuses particularly on genetic engineering, biomedical enhancement, patient-physician relationships, military bioethics, and the legal implications of medical practice guidelines. He explores how emerging biotechnologies challenge existing social structures and ethical norms, with particular attention to issues of equality, justice, and individual rights in the era of human enhancement.

His publications reveal a consistent focus on the societal implications of biomedical advances, particularly in genetic engineering and human enhancement. Mehlman's scholarship demonstrates how legal frameworks struggle to keep pace with rapid scientific developments, often creating ethical dilemmas that require innovative policy solutions. His work on medical malpractice guidelines shows his interest in practical applications of bioethics in healthcare delivery systems.

• Co-author of Access to the Genome: The Challenge to Equality
• Co-editor with Tom Murray of the Encyclopedia of Ethical, Legal and Policy Issues in Biotechnology
• Co-author of Genetics: Ethics, Law and Policy, the first casebook on genetics and law

Mehlman has dedicated his career to examining the governance challenges posed by emerging biomedical technologies. His research on DIY gene editing, military bioethics, and performance enhancement in sports demonstrates his commitment to addressing ethical questions before they become widespread societal problems. His work bridges theoretical ethical frameworks with practical legal applications, making significant contributions to both academic discourse and policy development in bioethics.