NATIONAL BIOETHICS-COMMITTEES IN EUROPE

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MICHAEL FUCHS

Abstract

Many people in central Europe look upon bioethics as an import from the UnitedStates. Yet this impression is mistaken in various respects. When Bill Clinton decided to setup a federal-level permanent committee for the fi eld of bioethics, he was actually following atrend already established by Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sloveniaand Belgium. Indeed, France was the fi rst country to take such an initiative. The advantage ofa permanent advisory body over ad hoc committees is that it can deliberate on a wider range ofissues, have greater latitude to pursue specifi c issues independently and be consulted not only byconstitutional bodies but also by private persons and organisations. However, the broader rangeof issues addressed and the greater authority enjoyed by a permanent body makes the task ofsecuring expertise and plurality more demanding. Most European states have therefore endeavouredto lay down solid ground rules, usually through legislation. In the overwhelming majorityof cases, their members must be appointed by different constitutional bodies but also by researchand educational establishments; others, like Norway or Italy, attempt to ensure plurality by defi ningthe disciplines and philosophical positions to be taken into consideration.

The paper discusses the role of national ethics bodies between ‘academic’ and ‘bureaucratic’bioethics as well as between philosophical analysis, public debate and participation and politicaldecision-making.

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How to Cite
FUCHS, M. (2015). NATIONAL BIOETHICS-COMMITTEES IN EUROPE. Arhe, 6(12). https://doi.org/10.19090/arhe.2009.12.%p
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