Palabras clave: autonomía del paciente; consentimiento informado; derechos humanos; protección judicial; Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos.

Abstract: human dignity, integrity, liberty and self-determination of the person represent universal values supported by the international community as a whole. In the field of biomedical applications on human beings, such values are protected by the respect for informed consent, a fundamental principle which has gained increasing relevance also at the international level. Despite the lack of specific judicial remedies, the case-law developed by the European Court of Human Rights in matter of protection of physical integrity and respect for private life has contributed to the effectiveness of the right to informed consent as internationally protected bio-right.