Launch of consultation on biofuels

22 December 2009

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has launched a public consultation on the potential of new types of biofuels, such as fuel produced by algae, to provide us with a greener source of renewable energy.

First generation biofuels, such as bioethanol made from corn, have not lived up to expectations. In some cases their net greenhouse gas emissions are not much better than those of fossil fuels and there have been concerns about their impact on the environment, food availability, and farmers and communities in developing countries.

Ethics body asks: how green are new biofuels?

Press Release

22 December 2009

The UK Nuffield Council on Bioethics is today calling for people’s views on the potential of new types of biofuels, such as fuel produced by algae, to provide us with a greener source of renewable energy.

First generation biofuels are produced mainly from food crops such as sugar cane, soy bean and wheat. But in some cases their net greenhouse gas emissions are not much better than those of fossil fuels and there have been concerns about their impact on the environment, food availability, and farmers and communities in developing countries.

Dementia: ethical issues report launch

9 November 2009

The Council launched its report Dementia: ethical issues at a public seminar held in London on 1 October 2009. Find out more about this report.

Working Party members presented the findings of the report, with talks on topics including including dilemmas in care, dementia research, and the needs of carers. The presentations were followed by questions and discussions with the audience.

Dementia carers need more support in tackling ethical dilemmas

Press Release

30 September 2009

Carers of people with dementia need more support and advice to tackle the difficult ethical dilemmas that they face on a daily basis, says the Nuffield Council on Bioethics in a major report today.

The report sets out an ethical approach to dealing with these dilemmas, and makes policy recommendations aimed at improving the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

Professor Tony Hope, chair of the Working Party that produced the report and a psychiatrist with many years of experience of working with people with dementia said:

BAPM professional guidelines

11 September 2009

The British Association of Perinatal Medicine has published professional guidelines on the management of extremely premature babies.

The Council is seeking a new member

3 August 2009

The Council is seeking applications for a new Council member with expertise in the media, communications and/or public engagement.

Applications are invited in the form of a brief statement of interest accompanied by a short curriculum vitae. These should be sent to the Director at the address below.

The closing date for submissions is 2nd October 2009.

Lords welcome Council's inquiry on medical profiling and online medicine

Press Release

7 July 2009

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has today published a report on Genomic Medicine, making recommendations for the future use of genetic tests both in the NHS and in the growing private market.

The report comes as the Council is considering the ethical issues raised by advances in genomic medicine as part of its current inquiry on Medical profiling and online healthcare: the ethics of 'personalised healthcare' in a consumer age.

Nuffield Council on Bioethics Public Lecture 2009

13 May 2009

Dr Thomas H Murray, President and CEO of The Hastings Center in the US, delivered the Council's 2009 public lecture on 29 April at the Royal Society in London.

His lecture, ‘New genetic recipes: are we cooking up trouble with synthetic biology?’ considered a range of issues raised by this new multi-disciplinary area of research. In particular, he considered the concept of non-physical harms such as affronts to nature, and the role such harms should play in public policy.

Launch of consultation on 'personalised healthcare'

21 April 2009

The Council has launched a public consultation on the ethical issues raised by online healthcare, telemedicine and commercial medical profiling technologies such as DNA testing and body imaging.

These technologies and services are increasingly focused on the individual, and often mean that the GP is no longer involved in health care.

New technologies are cutting the GP out of health care

Press Release

21 April 2009

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics today launched a consultation on the ethics of services and technologies that serve to remove the GP from health care, such as commercial DNA testing and body imaging, and online health care.