Previous projects

Solidarity: reflections on an emerging concept in bioethics

Solidarity in bioethics has received increasing attention but it is often unclear what the concept means. This report proposes a new definition of solidarity and applies it to policy making in the areas of biobanks, pandemics and lifestyle disease.

Human bodies: donation for medicine and research

Donated bodily material for medicine and research, such as organs, eggs and sperm, are in high demand, and current levels of donation fall short of need.

This report sets out guidance to help people consider the ethical acceptibility of various ways of encouraging people to donate, both for treatment of others and for scientific research.

Biofuels: ethical issues

Concerns over energy security, economic development and climate change are driving the development of biofuels.

This report sets out an ethical framework to guide policy making for both current and future biofuels.

Medical profiling and online medicine: the ethics of 'personalised healthcare' in a consumer age

New developments in medical profiling and online medicine are promised by their providers as leading to a new era of ‘personalised healthcare’.

These developments include direct-to-consumer personal genetic profiling and body imaging, and websites that provide health advice, storage of health records and medicines for sale. This report weighs up the benefits and harms, along with the ethical values that come into play.

Dementia: ethical issues

People with dementia, and those who care for them, face difficult ethical dilemmas on a day-to-day basis.

This report concludes that we need to do more as a society to enable people to live well with dementia. We present an ethical framework to help address problems that arise in connection with dementia care, together with recommendations for policy makers.

Public health: ethical issues

Some people object to the ‘nanny state’ whilst others want more measures to tackle problems like obesity and binge drinking.

This report considers what the Government, industry and individuals should do to enable people to lead a healthy life.

The forensic use of bioinformation: ethical issues

Fingerprinting and DNA profiling are valuable tools in the fight against crime, but there is a debate about whether police powers to keep people's details on record are justified.

This report uses the principle of proportionality as a basis for recommendations in a number of areas including the use of the National DNA Database.

Critical care decisions in fetal and neonatal medicine: ethical issues

Families and healthcare professionals face difficult and highly emotional decisions about the treatment and care of extremely premature babies.

This report discusses the ethical, legal and social issues raised and proposes guidelines on giving intensive care to babies born before 26 weeks.

The ethics of research involving animals

Research involving animals has been the subject of intense debate in the UK and elsewhere.

This report seeks to clarify the debate and aims to help people think through the ethical issues that are raised. It also makes practical recommendations for future policy and practice.

The ethics of research related to healthcare in developing countries: a follow-up discussion paper

This discussion paper is a follow-up to the Council’s 2002 report on the ethics of research related to healthcare in developing countries.

It explores the practical implications of new and revised guidelines from several international organisations, which were discussed at a workshop in Cape Town in February 2004.

Previous projects

Explore by topic