Northern Ireland dementia strategy echoes Council conclusions

10 November 2011

The Northern Ireland Executive has published a new strategy for improving dementia services in the region, echoing many of the conclusions made in the Nuffield Council’s 2009 report Dementia: ethical issues.

HFEA approves increased compensation for egg and sperm donors

19 October 2011

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority today decided that women who donate their eggs for others’ treatment should be compensated £750 per cycle, and that sperm donors should be compensated £35 per clinic visit.

Council seeks new Chair

18 October 2011

The Trustees of the Nuffield Foundation are seeking to appoint a Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, to succeed Professor Albert Weale, who retires in 2012.

Ethics body suggests NHS pays for funerals of organ donors

Press Release

10 October 2011

The NHS should test the idea of paying for the funerals of organ donors to help tackle the current shortage of organs, says a new report by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. The Council suggests that this would be an ethical way of encouraging more people to sign the Organ Donor Register. Under such a scheme, funeral expenses would be offered if someone who has signed the Organ Donor Register dies in circumstances where their organs can be donated to others.

Box Office Bioethics

19 September 2011

Calling all budding young film-makers!

The Council is delighted to announce the launch of our new film-making competition for students, Box Office Bioethics.

The competition is open to students in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and there are some great prizes up for grabs - winners will receive £200 in gift vouchers and their film will be shown at the Council's annual public lecture in London in spring 2012.

New Working Party on mitochondrial donation

15 September 2011

The Council has set up a new Working Party to consider the ethical issues raised by mitochondrial donation.

Mitochondrial disorders affect around 1 in 250 live births and can cause symptoms such as muscular weakness, blindness, liver failure and diabetes.

UN Briefing: Governments have an ethical responsibility to address non-communicable diseases

14 September 2011

Ahead of the UN High-level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases in New York next week, the Council has produced a briefing paper outlining why heads of state not only need to take the lead in tackling diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, but that they have an ethical responsibility to do so.

Consultation response on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes

31 August 2011

In its response to the Home Office consultation on options for the transposition of European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, the Council has called for the 3Rs (Refinement, Reduction and Replacement) to be further promoted in UK research.

The Council said the consultation was a welcome opportunity to consider how the legal protection of animals used in scientific procedures can be improved.

Council reminds UK Government of its ethical duty to act as “steward”

30 August 2011

Hugh Whittall, Director of the Council, has written to The Independent, reminding the UK Government of its ethical responsibility to act as a steward to create conditions in which people can live healthy lives.

Job vacancy: Office and Communications Administrator

22 August 2011

The Council is looking to recruit an Office and Communications Administrator to help support the efficient running of the organisation and to assist the communications team in promoting the Council's work. 

This will be a part time position for 25 hours per week with flexibility in arrnanging working hours.

Duties will include general office administration; organising working party meetings and travel arrangements; maintenance of the department’s database and publications; updating the website; and helping to organise and promote events.