Minutes of the Council meeting held on 18 January 2006
Sun, 5 March 2006
Council (06) 1st Meeting
NUFFIELD COUNCIL ON BIOETHICS
Minutes of the Meeting held at 28 Bedford Square London WC1B 3JS on 18 January 2006 at 10.30am
PRESENT
Professor Sir Bob Hepple QC FBA (Chairman)
Professor Tom Baldwin
Professor Margot Brazier
Professor Roger Brownsword
Professor Sir Kenneth Calman
The Rt Reverend Richard Harries
Professor Peter Harper
Mr Anatole Kaletsky
Dr Rhona Knight
Professor Peter Lipton
Professor Hugh Perry
Professor Lord Raymond Plant
Professor Herbert Sewell
Professor Peter Smith
Professor Dame Marilyn Strathern
Dr Alan Williamson
APOLOGIES
Professor Catherine Peckham
Professor John Krebs
SECRETARIAT
Professor Sandy Thomas, Dr Catherine Moody, Harald Schmidt, Carol Perkins, Catherine Joynson, Caroline Rogers and Julia Trusler.
The Chairman welcomed the three new members of the Council, Anatole Kaletsky, Dr Rhona Knight and Professor Hugh Perry, and expressed the gratitude of the Council to Professor Tom Baldwin and Professor Herb Sewell for whom this was their last meeting. It was also the final meeting for Professor Catherine Peckham who had sent her apologies but would be joining the Council for a farewell lunch at the March meeting.
MINUTES OF (05) 3RD MEETING
1 It was agreed that the minutes were an accurate record of the meeting held on 19 October.
MATTERS ARISING
2 It was noted that the CST Universal Code for Scientists had been reviewed in the Lancet. In the article, there was some overlap with the views expressed by the Council.
CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY CHAIR
3 The Chairman reported that as Professor Peckham was retiring from Council it would be necessary to appoint a new Deputy Chair. An approach had been made to Professor Peter Smith who confirmed that he had agreed to take on the role, in the first instance until 31 December 2007.
MEMBERSHIP
Council (06) 01
4 The Chairman reported that four names in the field of philosophy had been bought forward from the October meeting. The Council considered each application and agreed on who should be approached.
MAIN BUSINESS
WORKING PARTY ON CRITICAL CARE DECISIONS IN FETAL AND NEONATAL MEDICINE: ETHICAL ISSUES
Council (06) 02
5 The Chairman invited Professor Brazier to introduce the draft Report on Critical Care Decisions in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. He congratulated her and the Working Group on the good progress thus far and invited members to comment upon presentation, style, and substance of the Report. Detailed comments should be given to the Deputy Director after the meeting.
6 The Chairman noted the proposals for peer reviewers. It would be important to ensure that there was a good balance between national and international reviewers. The suggested names were discussed and possible alternatives suggested.
WORKSHOP: BIOINFORMATION FOR FORENSIC PURPOSES
Council (06) 04
7 The Assistant Director reported on the final form of the Workshop on bioinformation to be held on 21 February 2006. It would focus on two areas: forensic use of biological samples held in police and research databases, and the use of biometric information for police and identification purposes. He updated members on the list of participants and members agreed the suggestions for alternatives. The topic would be discussed at the meeting with the CCNE in Paris on 30 January.
8 It was agreed that a decision on the outcome of the Workshop should be taken at the Council meeting in March.
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN THE COUNCIL’S WORK
Council (06) 03
9 The Assistant Director reported that the Council had decided at the October meeting that an external expert should be commissioned to carry out a more detailed review of the range of ethical principles and norms which have featured in its previous reports. Draft terms of reference had been considered by Professors Strathern, Brazier, Lipton, Plant and Baldwin. A proposal had been made that the Council should commission two shorter reviews of approximately 5,000 to 6,000 words from different experts, rather than one longer paper.
10 The terms of reference for the project were agreed. Two projects would be commissioned. In addition to a philosopher, the Council should also involve a social scientist.
WORKING PARTY ON PUBLIC HEALTH: ETHICAL ISSUES
Council (06) 05
11 The Assistant Director reported that the membership of the Working Party was now complete. Due to the relatively tight timetable it was proposed that the draft consultation document should be circulated and approved by the Council by email in late March/early April. This was agreed. It was suggested that the Working Party should consider whether a public health doctor would be a useful addition.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
FIVE YEAR FUNDING BID
12 The Director reported on the sponsors’ response to the Council’s five year funding bid so far.
$1K GENOMES AND THE NEED FOR A STUDY
Council (06) 07
13 The Director introduced this paper which invited members to respond to a suggestion that the Council should consider undertaking a study and produce a report on the ethical issues arising from the likely development of complete genome sequencing at a modest cost within the next five years. Following the discussion it was agreed that a meeting should be arranged with the proposers to discuss the matter, and report back to Council.
REACHING OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE
Council (06) 08
14 The Director invited members to take note and to comment on the proposals for membership of the Advisory Group. Professor Calman commented that it would be important to involve experts in education in the work of the Advisory Group. Dr Knight was invited to join the Advisory Group. Other members of the Council who would like to be more closely involved were invited to let the Secretariat know and also to suggest any further names. Professor Calman suggested that members of the Council and Working Parties be encouraged to be more proactive in talking to school groups.
GENETIC SCREENING
15 The Secretariat had revised the draft update to the 1993 Report in light of the peer review comments and further editing was approaching completion. The document would be circulated to the Steering Group for final approval in February 2006.
WORKSHOP: NEUROSCIENCES
Council (06) 09
16 The Assistant Director updated members of the Council on the plans for the 2006 workshop and asked for comments on the draft programme, list of possible speakers and draft terms of reference. It was suggested that the breakout groups should be given separate tasks rather than participate on parallel sessions on the same topic. Members agreed the terms of reference and were invited to send any suggestions for invitees to the Assistant Director.
NATIONAL FORUM OF ETHICS COMMITTEES
17 The Director reported that the National Forum of Ethics Committee joint meeting with the Department of Health had taken place on 18th November and had been very successful. The meetings took place every 6 months and the next one would be in Vienna on 9th and 10th March.
BI-LATERAL MEETINGS 2006: CCNE AND NE
18 The Director reported that the next joint meeting with the CCNE in Paris would be held on 30th January, followed by a fact finding meeting with members of the CCD Working Party on 31st. The meeting with the Nationaler Ethikrat NE in Berlin would be held on 25th April and members of the Council would be contacted as to their availability. Topics suggested by the NE were the ethics of neuroscience, and enhancement.
TO REPORT
ETHICS OF RESEARCH INVOLVING ANIMALS
Council (06) 10
19 Members of the Council noted the paper.
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR YEAR TO 31 AUGUST (SUBJECT TO AUDIT)
20 The Management Accounts for the period up to 31 August 2005 were received and noted.
COUNCIL’S REVISED DRAFT WORK PLAN FOR 2006
Council (06) 12
21 The Council’s revised Draft Work Plan was received and noted.
QUARTERLY BULLETIN
Information (06) 01
22 This paper was noted.
WEB REPORT
Information (06) 02
23 The web report figures were noted.
MEETING DATES FOR 2006
(all commencing at 10.30 am)
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 Wed, 17 May 2006