Donation
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.
read more »Mitochondrial donation
The treatment of inherited mitochondrial abnormalities in human embryos using donor mitochondria is an advancing area of research. The techniques involved could have profound implications for future generations.
This project will explore the ethical issues relevant to affected families, potential donors, researchers, medical professionals and others trying to understand and respond to the therapeutic possibility of mitochondrial transfer.
read more »Research in developing countries: follow-up
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.
read more »Research in developing countries
Developing countries urgently need research to help relieve the burden of disease. It is vital that wealthier countries help sponsor this research, but rigorous ethical safeguards are needed to prevent the exploitation of those who take part.
This report defines the ethical standards for healthcare research in developing countries.
read more »Stem cells
Stem cells offer the possibility of major advances in healthcare but research is controversial because the cells are often derived from embryos.
A discussion paper on the key ethical issues, based on discussions held at a round table meeting, was published by the Council in April 2000.
read more »Future work - Workshop on genomics, health records, database linkage and privacy
On 22 February 2012 the Council held an exploratory workshop which bought together Council Members, staff and invited experts to discuss the ethical issues raised by genomics, health records, database linkage and privacy.
This topic was identified at the 2011 Forward Look meeting and the workshop was held to help members decide whether the issue merits further examination by the Council. The workshop opened with presentations on the following subjects:
read more »Future work - Workshop on children and clinical trials
On 9 December 2011 the Council held an exploratory workshop on the ethical issues raised by children taking part in clinical trials. This topic was identified at the 2010 Forward Look meeting and the workshop was held to help members decide whether the issue merits further examination by the Council.
The workshop brought together Council members, staff and invited experts to consider the following key questions:
read more »Mitochondrial donation - Background: The role of genetic testing
At present, some women with mutated mitochondria who would like to use their own eggs to have a baby can be offered ways to minimise, but not prevent, their risk of passing on passing mitochondrial disorders to their child. This may be done by using embryo testing techniques to gather more information about the risk of passing on health problems. They may be offered preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and/or prenatal diagnosis (PND).
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
read more »Mitochondrial donation - Background: Ethical questions arising
Ethical questions which may be considered as part of the project include:
read more »Broadening bioethics: clinical ethics, public health and global health
Baroness Onora O’Neill gave the Council's Annual Lecture at the Royal Society of Arts on Thursday 19th May 2011.
Download a transcript of the lecture.
Watch a video of the lecture.
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