Minutes of the Council meeting held on 25 June 2003
Sat, 20 September 2003
Council (03) 3rd Meeting
NUFFIELD COUNCIL ON BIOETHICS
Minutes of the Meeting held at 28 Bedford Square
London WC1B 3JS
on 25 June 2003 at 10.30 am
PRESENT
Professor Bob Hepple QC (Chairman)
Professor Catherine Peckham (Deputy Chair)
Professor Sir Kenneth Calman
The Rt Reverend Richard Harries
Professor Peter Lipton
Baroness Perry of Southwark
Professor Martin Raff
Professor Dame Marilyn Strathern
Mr Nick Ross
Professor Herbert Sewell
Professor Peter Smith
Professor Albert Weale
Dr Alan Williamson
APOLOGIES
Professor Tom Baldwin (speaking on behalf of the Council in Portugal), Professor Dame Marilyn Strathern and Professor Martin Raff
SECRETARIAT
Dr Sandy Thomas, Tor Lezemore, Harald Schmidt,
Nicola Perrin, Natalie Bartle, Julia Fox, Elaine Talaat-Abdalla and Maria Gonzalez-Nogal
The Chairman reminded the Council that two members of the Working Group on the use of genetically modified crops in developing countries (Professor Derek Burke and Professor Michael Lipton) would be joining the Council for lunch.
MINUTES OF (03) 2nd MEETING
1 It was agreed that the Minutes were an accurate record of the previous meeting.
MATTERS ARISING
Joint meeting with the Human Genetics Commission (HGC)
2 The half-day annual meeting had been held on 10 June at Bedford Square. The Vice-Chairman of the Human Genetics Commission (Professor Sandy McCall Smith) and five members attended. This had been a useful meeting which provided an opportunity for the two bodies to inform members about current and future work plans. Discussion about the work of the HGC focused on two recent reports, Inside Information – balancing interests in the use of personal genetic data and Genes Direct – ensuring the effective oversight of genetic tests supplied directly to the public. It was noted that the planned topic of reproductive choice might be relevant to the Council’s interest in the topic of prolonging life.
3 Attention was also drawn to the recent publication of the Government’s White Paper Our Inheritance, Our Future, realising the potential of genetics in the NHS. It was agreed that the Paper should be discussed at a future meeting of the Council.
Reaching out to young people
4 Membership of this group now was complete:
Professor Ken Calman (Chair), Professor Catherine Peckham, Nick Ross
External members:
Miss Elizabeth Diggory, Dr Peter Doyle, Andrew Hunt, Professor Michael Reiss
The first meeting would take place on the 17 July. Amongst the items for discussion was the possibility of producing short versions of Reports for a wider audience. Professor Sir Ken Calman, Chair of the ROYP group, suggested that the preparation of a short version of the Report GM crops: ethical and social issues might be timely. The Group would report to the Council at its 4th meeting in October.
CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
FORWARD LOOK SEMINAR
Council (03) 27
5 A more detailed note of this meeting would be made available to the Council’s Sub-group on Future Work. The Sub-group would accord priority to the list of suggested topics and make recommendations for consideration by the Council at the October meeting. It was agreed that the topic of allocation of healthcare resources would be added to the list.
MEMBERSHIP
Council (03) 28
6 It was agreed that an individual who had expertise in law, would be invited to join the Council.
MAIN BUSINESS
WORKING PARTY OF PHARMACOGENETICS:
ETHICAL ISSUES
Council (03) 29
7 The Chairman thanked the Chair of the Working Party, Professor Peter Lipton, and its members for their contribution to the draft Report. He noted the high quality of the Report which had been prepared in a relatively short time. Professor Lipton then outlined the aims of the draft Report and members were invited to give their comments.
8 The Council then discussed each recommendation made in the draft Report.
9 The final version of the Report, incorporating these comments, would be circulated to the Chairman of the Council and the Chairman of the Working Party on 9 July who would then take responsibility for approving the final text of the Report.
WORKSHOP ON THE ETHICAL ISSUES RAISED
BY PROLONGING LIFE
Council (3) 30
10 Discussion of this item was postponed until the next meeting.
HRRDC II SOUTH AFRICA
Council (03) 31
11 Discussion of this item was postponed until the next meeting.
WORKING PARTY ON THE ETHICS OF RESEARCH INVOLVING ANIMALS
Council (03) 32
12 Baroness Perry, Chair of the Working Party, reported that the second meeting had been very productive. However, there was a need to ask Council to consider extending the membership of the Working Party.
13 After discussion it was agreed to appoint two additional individuals to the Working Party. One should have relevant expertise and experience in the use of animals in pharmaceutical research.
WORKING PARTY ON THE USE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Council (03) 33
14 The Chairman thanked Harald Schmidt, Nicola Perrin and Natalie Bartle for their exceptional contribution to the preparation of the draft Discussion Paper on genetically modified crops.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
BI-LATERAL MEETING WITH CCNE
15 Discussion of this item was postponed.
DANISH COUNCIL ON ETHICS PROPOSED COLLABORATIVE MEETING
16 Discussion of this item was postponed.
TO REPORT
BIOETHICS BRIEFING: ACTIVITIES OF OTHER ORGANISATION
Council (03) 34
17 The Briefing was received and noted.
FINANCIAL REPORT: MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS
TO 31 MAY 2003
Council (03) 35
18 The Management Accounts for the period up to the 31 May 2003 were received.
COUNCIL’S REVISED DRAFT WORK PLAN
FOR 2003/2004
Council (03) 36
19 The Council’s revised Draft Work Plan was received.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
20 The Chairman wished to record his thanks to Professor Peter Lipton whose term of co-option on the Council had now concluded. He also thanked Tor Lezemore, Assistant Director and Natalie Bartle, Research Officer, who were leaving the Secretariat, for their excellent service.
FOR INFORMATION
COUNCIL MEETING DATES FOR 2004
Information (03) 05
21 The dates for the Council meetings in 2004 were circulated for information.
QUARTERLY BULLETIN
Information (03) 06
22 For information.
WEB REPORT
Information (03) 07
23 The web report figures were noted.
REMAINING MEETING DATE FOR 2003
Thursday 16 October
AGREED DATES FOR 2004
COUNCIL
Wednesday 14 January 10.30 am
Thursday 25 March 10.30 am
Wednesday 23 June 10.30 am
Thursday 14 October 10.30 am
FORWARD LOOK SEMINAR
Thursday 13 May full day meeting
Last Updated Mon, 7 June 2004