1. Developments of Bioethics in Europe and Lithuania
Vilnius, September , 2005
Ole J. Hartling
Danish Council of Ethics

2. The Danish Council of Ethics
established 1987 by law
revised law no. 440 of 9th. June 2004
ethical advice – (including issues connected with the application of bio- and gene technology)
scope: human beings, nature, environment, and food

3. Composition of the Council 17 members
“gender neutral” i.e. equal number of men and women
insight into ethical, cultural, societal, and other related questions
both experts and lay-people are represented in the council
the members do not represent any organisation or political party

4. 17 members
9 members and the chairman appointed by the parliament-ary committee
4 members by the Minister for Health and Interior Affairs
1 member by the Minister for Environmental Affairs
1 member by the minister for Family and Consumer affairs
1 member by the minister for Science, Technology og and Development
1 member by the minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries

5. The Danish Council of Ethics
Prerequisites:
independency
respect for the integrity and dignity of man and future generations
respect for nature and the environment

6. The purpose: Two legs to walk on
Advice - parliament and government
Debate - public debate

7. Scope I Human beings - Human life e.g.:
Reproductional technology, foetal diagnosis, and the use of fertilised human eggs and embryos
Gene technology

8. Scope II Nature and the environment e.g.:
preservation of biological diversity and sustainable development

9. The legislation landscape
Human beings mainly national law e.g.:
rights of patients
protection of trial subjects
artificial procreation
protection of the dying

10. The legislation landscape
Environment, plants, GMO’s, food
Mainly regulated via EU- and international legislation
(Novel food, Cartagena Protocol, directive of contained use, directive of deliberate release)

11. Bioethics what is right? doing things right doing the right things
medically/
technically
legally
doing things
right
what is
right?
morally/
ethically
doing the
right things

12. New knowledge and new possibilities pose new dilemmas
”Law of nature”
New knowledge and new possibilities pose new dilemmas
“It is natural for man to do unnatural things.”
anonymous

14. The patient-doctor relationship will be based on the conception that
”the human genome is the molecular self”.
The doctor’s job will be to assess risks and to tell the patient about his ”risk profile”.

15. Formerly the patient went to see the doctor and presented a symptom.
In the future the doctor sends for the patient and presents to him what symptoms the patient may expect.

17. Hope or fear?

18. What is going on? What is on it’s way? What is the problem?1.
What is god and what it bad? - and why? 2.
What should we recommend? Change of law? Rules? 3.

19. Ethical evaluation - principles, e.g.:
human, ”samaritarian”
- emphasises the motive of help
autonomy based
- emphasises autonomy
individual utilitarian
- emphasises the consequences
for the individual
community utilitarian
- emphasises the consequences for
the community, culture etc.

20. Groucho Marx:
”These are my principles. If you don’t
like them I have others.”

21. autonomy
and care
dignity
dignity

22. primum non
nocere

23. To address an issue:
a working group is formed among the members. The group is assisted by the secretariat
external experts are consulted if necessary
the matter and the products of the working group is discussed in the council at one or more (several) meetings
e.g. a report or statement dealing with the issue is presented

24. The Danish Council
of Ethics
20th Sep. 2004

26. 99,9% genes in common

28. Article 4
The human genome in its natural state shall not give rise to financial gains.

31. The aim and endeavour is to make it more than words
Hamlet:
”Words, words, words”
HAMLET

32. Experience from the human area to the foods area?
the risk assessments and ethical principles: autonomy, dignity, integrity and vulnerability
The Foods area
scientific principles for evaluation: substantial equivalence – precautionary principle
should scientific principles be supplemented with ”ethical precaution”?

33. Prospects and challenges
national implementation of international conventions
concrete guidance for administrators
dialogue forums among the different actors
further scope for public debate
crystallising out ethical values in e.g. the foods area
incorporating ethical assessments

34. Thank you!