Previous projects

Donor conception: ethical aspects of information sharing

This report considers the interests of people affected by donor conception - donor-conceived people, parents, donors, and all their wider family and social networks – and makes recommendations about what can be done to support, encourage and empower those making decisions about the sharing of information.

Emerging biotechnologies: technology, choice and the public good

Biotechnologies are significant in many aspects of life, from food and energy production to medicine, industry, and economic development.

This report explores the ethical issues and challenges raised by emerging biotechnologies and sets out a ‘public ethics’ approach to help guide improved practice in policy making, research and regulation.

Novel techniques for the prevention of mitochondrial DNA disorders: an ethical review

Mitochondrial DNA disorders are incurable genetic disorders that can cause severely debilitating symptoms and can be fatal in early childhood. New techniques that could prevent the transmission of these disorders are being researched, but are not yet used in treatment.

This report explores the ethical issues relevant to the possible use of such treatments in future.

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 acceptability 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.

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