What Kind of Bioethics Council Do We Need?

August 18, 2009

Bioethics councils have come in many shapes and sizes, with different mandates, memberships, and outcomes. What kind of bioethics council would best serve the nation now? How can we move beyond the rancor and polarization—not to mention hyperbole and distortions on all sides—that in recent years have characterized so much of bioethics and the broader politics of science? There is no one answer, but a new council must incorporate viewpoints from Americans of all walks of life, maintain an appropriate distance from both scientific and commercial interests, and build on the experience of other nations. (Science Progress)