Minutes of the Council meeting held on 19 October 2005
Thu, 2 March 2006
Council (05) 4th Meeting
NUFFIELD COUNCIL ON BIOETHICS
Minutes of the Meeting held at 28 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3JS on 19 October 2005 at 10.30am
PRESENT
Professor Sir Bob Hepple QC FBA (Chairman)
Professor Margot Brazier
The Rt Reverend Richard Harries
Professor Peter Lipton
Professor Lord Raymond Plant
Professor Herbert Sewell
Professor Dame Marilyn Strathern
Dr Alan Williamson
APOLOGIES
Professor Catherine Peckham
Professor Tom Baldwin
Professor Roger Brownsword
Professor Sir Kenneth Calman
Professor Peter Harper
Professor Peter Smith
SECRETARIAT
Professor Sandy Thomas, Dr Catherine Moody, Harald Schmidt, Carol Perkins, Catherine Joynson, Caroline Rogers, Julia Trusler and Clare Stephens.
The Chairman welcomed the two new members of the Secretariat, Julia Trusler, the new Research Officer and Clare Stephens, who had joined as the new Secretary.
MINUTES OF (05) 3RD MEETING
1 It was agreed that the Minutes were an accurate record of the meeting held on 22 June.
MATTERS ARISING
2 There were no matters arising, other than those itemised on the agenda.
CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
MEMBERSHIP
3 The Chairman reported that the Membership Panel had met on 7 September. Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss had agreed to take on the role of independent chair, but had been unable to attend the first meeting. Instead, she had provided helpful comments on the process and questions to consider. In considering applications, the Panel had considered the gender balance of the Council and the concentration of members from within the ‘golden triangle’.
4 The Council discussed the recommendations of the Membership Panel and a number of actions were agreed. The Chairman noted that the new process for determining membership was a useful innovation. Advertising appeared to have worked well in widening the field of applicants. It was noted that gender balance and the proportion of members from the ‘Golden Triangle’ were still important issues.
MAIN BUSINESS
WORKSHOP: BIOINFORMATION FOR FORENSIC PURPOSES
Council (05) 36
5 The Assistant Director reported that the Council had agreed at the June meeting to host a workshop on the ethical issues raised by the use of person-specific biological information for legal and forensic purposes. Attached to the paper were two draft programmes, one concentrating on the forensic use of biological samples held in police and research databases, the other combined this with the use of biometric information for police and identification purposes. There would also be a session on forensic databases, biometrics and use of personal information at the meeting of the National Forum of Ethics Committees on 18 November.
6 Members agreed that the two topics should be combined and selected the draft programme at Annex B. It was agreed that having terms of reference would be useful to delegates. The Chairman proposed to amend the third item to read ‘To advise what further work (if any) should be undertaken by the NCOB’.
DISCUSSION – FUTURE WORK: CROSS CUTTING THEMES
Council (05) 37
7 The Chairman suggested that this paper should be considered in conjunction with paper Council (05) 38, Ethical principles in the Council’s work: an analysis, as they were closely connected. Professor Strathern explained that the break-out sessions of the Forward Look meeting had prompted her to reflect on the way that topics for Council’s attention were conceptualised. What had emerged was the degree to which similar ethical issues appeared to crop up in different contexts. Professor Strathern suggested that instead of choosing single topics, and in each case assembling the arguments for that field, the Council could move to consider the complex and difficult fact of life that topics were not insulated from one another and each existed in a field of topics. She suggested that an example would be to take the concepts of confidentiality, privacy and anonymity and examine the ethics of each from current and contrasting perspectives on the ‘right to know’ versus predictive genetics. This study would show what difference the contexts made.
8 Members considered this proposal and it was agreed that such an exercise could be very useful and provide a refreshing and intellectually stimulating way of considering topics. There was discussion on the best mechanism for carrying out the work and on what the product should be.
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN THE COUNCIL’S WORK: AN ANALYSIS
Council (05) 38
9 This discussion is recorded in the minute of Council (05) 37 (above).
WORKING PARTY ON THE ETHICS OF PROLONGING LIFE IN FETUSES AND THE NEWBORN
Council (05) 39
10 Professor Brazier reported that the Working Party had reached a critical stage, both in terms of drafting and in resolving hard questions. The other activities of the Working Party were noted, especially the inter-faith workshop. This had been a success and could be a useful model for future Working Parties, where appropriate. It was of interest that the faith representatives had expressed an unexpected degree of commonality of approach.
WORKING PARTY OF THE ETHICS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Council (05) 39
11 The Assistant Director reported that a total of nine Working Party meetings were planned, commencing in January 2006. The Council would sign off the final version of the Report in June 2007, for publication in September 2007. Following discussion it was agreed to adopt the proposed title Public Health: Ethical issues.
GENETIC SCREENING
12 The Deputy Director reported that the Secretariat had revised the new draft Report in light of the peer review comments and that it would be circulated to the Steering Group for final approval.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
FIVE YEAR FUNDING BID
13 The Director reported on the response from referees and requested guidance from members of the Council on two particular areas where the referees had commented: follow up and public engagement.
NATIONAL FORUM OF ETHICS COMMITTEES
Council (05) 41
14 The Director reported that on behalf of the UK, the Council and the Department of Health would be co-hosting the next Forum of National Ethics Committees. The event would consist of an evening reception on 17th November, followed by a full day meeting on 18th November. Around 50-70 delegates from EC national ethics committees were expected. The full day meeting would consist of two sessions. The morning was being organised by the Department of Health and the afternoon, which would be on public health, by the Council.
15 The Council would also be meeting with the European Group on Ethics on the morning of 16th November.
WORKSHOP: NEUROSCIENCES
Council (05) 42
16 The Assistant Director reported that at the Council’s Forward Look meeting in May, members had considered the ethical issues raised by advances in neurosciences in one of the breakout groups. A Workshop was now planned, due to take place on 11 May 2006. This could either cover a very broad range of questions in a comparatively cursory manner, or focus on a specific area. Its purpose was to ascertain whether a Working Party on ethical issues raised by advances in sciences should be established. Members of the Council were invited to make suggestions for the thematic focus of the Workshop and to propose possible invitees after the meeting. The Secretariat would begin planning for the meeting.
BI-LATERAL MEETINGS 2006: CCNE AND NE
17 The Director reported that the joint meeting with the CCNE in Paris would be held either at the end of January or February and that the hosts would propose the topic, probably the use of forensic bioinformation. The meeting with the NE would be either in March or April and neuroscience would be an area of discussion. Previous experience had shown that having about five Members of Council present at the joint meetings was a good balance. The meetings were informal, with the emphasis very much on discussion.
CST UNIVERSAL ETHICAL CODE FOR SCIENTISTS
Council (05) 43
18 The Director explained that Sir David King, the government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, was keen for the Council to comment on the Universal Ethical Code for Scientists developed by the Council of Science and Technology. Members of the Council were asked to consider the Code and advise the Secretariat on whether there should be a response, and, if so, what it should be.
TO REPORT
ETHICS OF RESEARCH INVOLVING ANIMALS
Council (05) 44
19 The Assistant Director reported that the RIA Report had been downloaded from the Council’s website over 34,000 times since it was published in May. Copies of the Report, together with letters highlighting specific recommendations, had been sent to over 20 governmental and non-governmental organisations and the Council had received several responses which were attached to the paper. The Council had collaborated with the Dana Centre to organise a public discussion on the ethics of research involving animals. A Parliamentary briefing for MPs, peers and civil servants was held on 18 October. The Kennel Club had also arranged meetings with MPs which were due to take place on 26th October in which members of the Working Party would participate. The short version of the Report had been completed and would be printed by the end of the month. The Nuffield Curriculum Centre had held a meeting with teachers and education experts on 6th October to discuss the production of materials for schools.
BIOETHICS BRIEFING: ACTIVITIES OF OTHER ORGANISATIONS
Council (05) 45
20 The briefing was received and noted.
UNESCO DECLARATION ON UNIVERSAL NORMS ONBIOETHICS: FINAL DECLARATION
Council (05) 46
21Members noted the paper.
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR YEAR TO 31 AUGUST(SUBJECT TO AUDIT)
Council (05) 47
22 The Management Accounts for the period up to 31 August 2005 were received and noted.
COUNCIL’S REVISED DRAFT WORK PLAN FOR 2005 AND 2006
Council (05) 48
23 The Council’s revised Draft Work Plan was received and noted.
QUARTERLY BULLETIN
Information (05) 07
24 This paper was noted.
WEB REPORT
Information (05) 08
25 The web report figures were noted.
MEETING DATES FOR 2006
(all commencing at 10.30 am)
Wednesday 18 January
Thursday 23 March
Wednesday 21 June
Thursday 19 October
Forward Look event
Thursday 11 May
All meetings will be held at 28 Bedford Square.
Last Updated Thu, 2 March 2006