A report (by the advisory body on clinical priorities) examined whether social background, age, or lifestyle choices should ever influence the healthcare provided by the National Health Service. It concluded that no priority should be given based on individuals income, social class, or social roles at different ages, when considering cost effectiveness in clinical guidance. Clinical guidance should only recommend a treatment for a particular age group where there was clear evidence of a difference in that treatment s effectiveness for that age group
Source: Social Value Judgements: Principles for the development of NICE guidance, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (0870 121 4194)
Links: Report | NIHCE press release
Date: 2005-Dec
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority approved research to create human embryos that would have three parents, including two mothers, as part of efforts to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial disease.
Source: Press release 8 September 2005, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (020 7377 5077)
Links: HFEA press release | BBC report
Date: 2005-Sep
A series of articles examined the options for changing the law on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
Source: British Medical Journal, 24 September 2005
Links: BMJ press release | CofE press release
Date: 2005-Sep
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on human reproductive technologies and the law.
Source: Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law: Government Response to the Report from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, Cm 6641, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response (pdf) | MPs report
Date: 2005-Aug
The government began consultation on the regulation of the technology and techniques used to assist human reproduction. It covered issues such as the rules governing screening and selecting embryos for medical purposes, the scope for a 'lighter touch' regulation of in-vitro fertilization, and the best way to safeguard the welfare of a child born through assisted conception.
Source: Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | DH press release | Stonewall press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Aug
A survey was published of public knowledge of, and attitudes to, gene therapy and its social and ethical implications, including findings on how various methods of communication could affect these beliefs.
Source: What Do People Think About Gene Therapy?, Wellcome Trust (020 7611 7329)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Wellcome Trust press release
Date: 2005-Aug
A report summarized responses to a public consultation paper on genetics and reproductive decision-making.
Source: People Science & Policy Ltd, Choosing the Future: Genetics and Reproductive Decision-Making - Analysis of responses to the consultation, Human Genetics Commission (020 7972 1518)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
The Court of Appeal upheld the validity of guidance issued by the General Medical Council on the withholding and withdrawing of life-prolonging treatment. (The guidance had been successfully challenged in he High Court in 2004.)
Source: R (Burke) v General Medical Council (Official Solicitor intervening), Court of Appeal, 28 July 2005
Links: GMC press release | BMA press release | VES press release | DRC press release | Scope press release
Date: 2005-Jul
A paper compared and contrasted the ethical arguments surrounding pre-natal genetic testing for sex and disability.
Source: Michael Burgess and Bryn Williams-Jones, Law in Tension with Evolving Ethical Perception: Prenatal genetic testing for sex and disability, Working Paper 71, School of Social Sciences/Cardiff University (029 2087 5179)
Links: Working paper (pdf) | Abstract
Date: 2005-Jun
The British Medical Association (representing family doctors) voted by 3 to 1 to maintain the existing legal limits on abortion (restricting abortions to the first 24 weeks of pregnancy except in extreme circumstances), rejecting a move to reduce the time limit.
Source: The Guardian, 1 July 2005
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jun
A think-tank discussion paper considered recent advances in behavioural genetics the study of how genes influence behaviour and suggested how this research might be both useful and of concern to those interested in a fairer society and greater equality of opportunity.
Source: Mike Dixon, Brave New Choices?: Behavioural genetics and public policy, Institute for Public Policy Research (020 7470 6100)
Links: Discussion paper (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A report by a committee of peers said that the demand for assisted suicide or voluntary euthanasia was particularly strong among determined individuals whose suffering derived more from the fact of their terminal illness than from its symptoms, and who were unlikely to be deflected from their wish to end their lives by more or better palliative care. Any future Bill to legalize assistance with suicide or voluntary euthanasia should focus primarily on this group of people.
Source: Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill [HL], First Report (Session 2004-05), HL 86, House of Lords Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | VES press release | DRC press release | FPLD press release | CofE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Apr
The Law Lords ruled that the Human Embryology and Fertilisation Authority had a legal power to license fertility treatment aimed at saving a sibling's life.
Source: Quintavalle v Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, UKHL 28 (Session 2004-05), House of Lords Judicial Office (020 7219 3111)
Links: Text of judgement | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Apr
The government announced that restrictions which prevented providers from using genetic test results to deny people insurance cover would be extended for at least a further five years.
Source: Concordat and Moratorium on Genetics and Insurance, Department of Health (020 7972 1518) and Association of British Insurers
Links: Concordat (pdf) | DH press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs said that a 'gradualist' approach to the status of the embryo represented the most ethically sound and pragmatic policy, permitting in vitro fertilization and embryo research within certain legal constraints. Couples undergoing IVF treatment should be allowed to choose the sex of their children. A minority on the committee issued a dissenting report.
Source: Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law, Fifth Report (Session 2004-05), HC 7, House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law, Eighth Special Report (Session 2004-05), HC 491, House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Minority report | HFEA press release | BFS press release | BMA press release | GeneWatch UK press release | Church of England press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Mar
A report analysed the ethical, social, scientific, economic, and practical considerations of genetic profiling (the analysis of a person s entire genome in order to reveal their personal genetic information) at birth. It said that this was not likely to be affordable in the public health context for at least 20 years.
Source: Profiling the Newborn: A prospective gene technology?, Human Genetics Commission (dh@prolog.uk.com) and UK National Screening Committee
Links: Report (pdf) | GeneWatch UK press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Mar
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority began consultation on how clinics should protect the interests of children born through fertility treatment. It focused on three main areas: the kind of enquiries to be made of prospective parents whether medical or social, and which other professionals should be involved; the factors to be taken into account in the assessment whether these should include medical risks, physical risks, psychological risks and social factors; and whether patients undergoing different kinds of treatment needed different assessment and information such as people using donor conception.
Source: Tomorrow s Children, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (020 7377 5077)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | HFEA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan
