July 2020

We have been working to provide information and advice to ensure that ethics is a key consideration in government and societal responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can access all of our work on COVID-19 here.

New in-depth inquiry: the future of ageing

We are pleased to announce that we will soon begin a new in-depth inquiry on the future of ageing. The inquiry will explore the ethical implications of the emerging role of science and technology in helping people live well in old age.

We are inviting expressions of interest in being involved in this project, whether as member of the working group or for example contributing evidence through meetings or online consultations, or as a potential reviewer of this work.

We also welcome input on ways to engage with older people to scope and shape this inquiry and also any relevant literature which we should consider as we begin to undertake desk research on the topic.

To express an interest or share insight on this topic, please contact Kate Harvey.

Policy briefing and webinar – COVID-19 antibody testing and ‘immunity certification’

Our latest rapid policy briefing highlights a number of ethical considerations raised by the use of COVID-19 antibody testing and ‘immunity certification’ that require urgent attention before any further development of the technology and services around testing.

We also held a webinar on the topic. We were joined by Professor Bobbie Farsides, Professor of Clinical and Biomedical Ethics at Brighton and Sussex Medical School; Dr Agomoni Ganguli-Mitra, Lecturer and Chancellor’s Fellow in Bioethics and Global Health Ethics at the University of Edinburgh Law School; and Professor Dr Steffen Augsberg, Professor of Public Law at the University of Giessen and member of the Deutscher Ethikrat (German Ethics Council).

The panel discussion focused largely on the prospect of ‘immunity certification’ to exacerbate pre-existing inequalities, many of which have already been growing as a result of the pandemic.

Watch the webinar below or on our website.

We also have a guest blog from Bobbie Farsides that is an extended version of her presentation. Read The troubling prospect of immunity certificates.

Our webinar on ethical implications for COVID-19 antibody testing and 'immunity certification'.

Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review

On 8 July, the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review published their report titled First do no harm. The report echoes many of the themes featured in our bioethics briefing note on the ethical issues raised by medical implants.

We welcome the recommendations of this report, which aim to reduce the risk of avoidable harm to patients in future, to better the patient experience, and to help restore trust in the system. We commend the work of the Review team in listening to and engaging people and patients and making their voices heard.

Online training course on research in global health emergencies now available in Spanish

We, together with The Global Heath Network, have launched a Spanish translation of our free online course that explores the ethical issues that arise when conducting research in global health emergencies.

The course based entirely on our report Research in global health emergencies: ethical issues. The short report and overview are also available in Spanish, in addition to other translations.

Access the course in English and Spanish

Two years on from Genome editing and human reproduction: ethical issues

It’s been two years since the publication of our report, Genome editing and human reproduction: ethical issues. There have been a number of developments since then (namely the birth of gene-edited twin girls) and we have continued to be part of the global debate. At the end of last year, Pete Mills wrote a piece on the evolving international discussion around human heritable genome editing. As part of our genome editing work, we’re now looking at the use of genome editing in farmed animals. The inquiry will conclude in 2021.

Blog

How ethically challenging are challenge trials?

Katharine Wright, Assistant Director
Just at the point where vaccine trials are showing promise, levels of infection circulating in the general population in the UK are relatively low. This is obviously good news from many perspectives – but makes the next stage of testing more difficult. Is one possible answer human challenge trials?

The troubling prospect of immunity certificates

Guest post: This blog is an extended version of a presentation given by Professor Bobbie Farsides at last week’s webinar “Ethical implications of antibody testing and 'immunity certification'."

Nuffield Council on Bioethics 2019

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