The battle over ethics and regulation

Are we getting the balance right and maintaining public confidence to allow scientists their ‘licence to practice’?

The UK prides itself on striking the right balance between regulating new science to reassure the public it is safe, ethical and beneficial – especially in the fields of genetics and embryology – and encouraging new research and scientific endeavour. But the Draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill has generated a number of concerns and raised difficult questions about the relationship between the law and the rapid pace of scientific advance. Are we getting the balance right and maintaining public confidence to allow scientists their ‘licence to practice’? Is there a danger of pandering to unspecified fears and generating unnecessary distrust of genetic science? How can the law expect to keep pace with rapidly evolving science? Is there a case to be made for a more liberal legal framework and less regulation?

Visit www.battleofideas.org.uk for more information

Register to tell a friend about this lecture.

Comments

If you would like to comment about this lecture, please register here.

©2003-2006 Niminim Limited. Created by

Any ad revenue is entirely reinvested into the Lecture List's operating fund