ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies academic recommendations for more public participation in decision-making on biotechnological patents and such claims can be grounded in existing human rights instruments, which acknowledge the right to participate. The reform envisaged incorporates deliberation and public debate into the participatory decision-making process in this realm. It will seek to ensure that patent officials become better educated about ethical matters; the publics about the patent system and its incentives, and; politicians about enshrining information and transparency into their practices and communication to the publics. The chapter will define deliberative democracy, examine it in depth and deal with its critics.
