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October 2020

New bioethics briefing note - egg freezing in the UK

A lack of clear, accessible, and transparent data creates a series of ethical issues for egg freezing.

Our latest bioethics briefing note highlights a pressing need for data on egg freezing success rates to be presented more clearly, accessibly, and transparently. At present, research suggests that women find these data difficult to navigate.

Frances Flinter, member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and Emeritus Professor of Clinical Genetics at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“It’s vital for women thinking about freezing their eggs to be able to make informed choices. To do this, they need easy access to data on their chances of success across various stages of the process – from freezing and thawing eggs, to having a live birth. But they also need clinics to be frank about the process, and about what is known and unknown about egg freezing. This is especially important given egg freezing’s increasing popularity.”

Frances spoke to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme and Mail+ about the briefing note. There was also coverage in The Telegraph, BBC, The Times (and another), and the Daily Mail. Kate Harvey, the author of the note, wrote a piece for BioNews.

Read the briefing note

Job opportunity: Researcher Officer

We are looking for a Research Officer to join our team on six-month post to cover a secondment with the possibility of a short extension, ideally starting towards the end of October.

The Research Officer (RO) will primarily be working on the Council’s new in-depth inquiry into the future of ageing, which will explore the ethical implications of the emerging role of science and technology in helping people live well in old age.

This is an excellent opportunity to be involved at the early stages of the project where the focus and direction are shaped. It will involve supporting an Assistant Director in carrying out relevant research, drafting background papers, and organising working group and fact finding meetings. The RO will also be involved in the public engagement side of the project and will be working on what this may involve and how it can be integrated into the work.

The application deadline is 10:00 am on 12 October 2020. Interviews will take place on 15 October 2020.
Apply now

Bella Starling is the Chair of our new in-depth inquiry into ageing

We are pleased to announce that Bella Starling is the Chair of our new in-depth inquiry into ageing. Bella is the Director of Vocal (formerly Public Programmes) at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; and a Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellow.

Of the new appointment, Bella Starling said:

“I am delighted to take on the role of Chair of this important inquiry. Never has it been more important to consider what it means to live well in older age, in the context of scientific, technological and social innovation. It will be an honour to interrogate this complex area with the Council and colleagues with diverse and lived experience, over the coming months.”

Our in-depth inquiry into ageing will explore the ethical implications of the emerging role of science and technology in helping people live well in old age.

Nuffield Council speaks to Committee about body image

Council member, Clare Chambers, gave evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee for their inquiry 'Changing the perfect picture: an inquiry into body image,'

Our own work on cosmetic procedures looked at the drivers behind why people might consider cosmetic procedures, such as the pressure to look a certain way, and the impact of an increasing rate of images of the self and body on social media or other platforms.

Read more

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Heritable human genome editing: making ‘societal dialogue’ meaningful

by Jackie Leach Scully, Professor of Bioethics and Director of the Disability Innovation Institute UNSW and member of our working group on genome editing and human reproduction.

The Consensus Study Report of the International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing, produced by an international commission convened by the US National Academies of Medicine and Sciences and the UK’s Royal Society, is careful to state that its focus is firmly on the scientific and technical sides of heritable human genome editing (HHGE) rather than the social and ethical.

 

Recognising the human rights of people with dementia during COVID-19

by Katharine Wright, Assistant Director

One of the most distressing aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic for me has been the treatment of older people living in care homes – and the uncomfortable spotlight cast on the way their fundamental needs and interests are often overlooked.

 

To challenge or not to challenge? That is the question!

by Susan Tansey, member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and an independent Consultant Pharmaceutical Physician

Back in March, discussion started as to whether it would be appropriate to consider challenge trials to speed up vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenge trials are a specific kind of vaccine trial where otherwise healthy volunteers are given an experimental vaccine prior to being intentionally exposed to the virus the vaccine is targeting (or a milder version of it) to see if they are protected.

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Nuffield Council on Bioethics 2020

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