Nouvelle-Zélande

Comités nationaux de bioéthique ou d'éthique des sciences

Toi Te Taiao: the Bioethics Council, Nouvelle Zélande

Toi te Taiao: New Zealand's Bioethics Council, was formed with the aim of enhancing New Zealand's understanding of the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and ensuring that the use of biotechnology has regard for New Zealanders' values.

Historique :

The New Zealand Government established Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council in December 2002. This followed a recommendation by the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification [1], to meet public concern that decision-making was not adequately addressing the ethical, cultural and spiritual dimensions of genetic modification and biotechnology.

Submissions to the Royal Commission had highlighted the need for high-level advice to Government, with community input, on overarching ethical, cultural and spiritual concerns that could not be easily dealt with on a case-by-case basis and had wider implications for society. The Royal Commission envisioned the Council to be "an expert and independent body to promote and guide public debate on matters of principle, and to develop guidelines for ERMA and other bodies". The Government accepted this recommendation and established the Bioethics Council, in December 2002.

Mission:

The purpose of Toi te Taiao: New Zealand's Bioethics Council, is to:

- Enhance New Zealand's understanding of the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology.

- Ensure that the use of biotechnology has regard for New Zealanders' values.

The Māori words 'Toi te Taiao' mean: 'the sphere of the spiritual and natural worlds'. This refers to the Māori understanding that bioethical decisions emerge at the point where the spiritual and natural worlds meet :

Toi Te Taiao: The Bioethics Council is a ministerial advisory committee to:

Provide independent advice to Government on biotechnological issues involving significant cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions. Promote and participate in public dialogue on cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and enable public participation in the Council's activities. Provide information on the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology. Key tasks

In undertaking its functions the committee is expected to:

1. Advise the Government on biotechnological issues of national importance involving significant cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions and guide decision-makers on these matters. The advice will be made public and should: Take account of the values of New Zealanders. Take into account the social context and dimensions of biotechnology and the issues it generates. Articulate and report on the diversity of views on an issue. Be guided by values and views held in common as well as identifying areas where a diversity of values and views remain, in particular those created by Treaty issues.

2. Demonstrate its commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi including its responsibility to consult and engage with Māori in a manner that specifically provides for their needs.

3. Act as a public forum for dialogue on ethical, cultural and spiritual dimensions associated with the use of biotechnology, and publish reports.

4. Develop and implement other strategies to involve, communicate and consult with the public and other stakeholders about the ethical, cultural and spiritual dimensions of biotechnology. These strategies will seek to contribute to the building of trust between the public and various stakeholders.

5. Co-ordinate with other advisory and decision-making bodies relative to policy development in ethics and values with a view to promoting consistency and minimising duplication between existing ethics advisory bodies.

6. Maintain a watching brief, with a view to facilitating public understanding of underlying values and ethics, on: Different "world views" and other interdisciplinary topics related to biotechnology. The implications of those world views to Treaty issues. Through a "future watch" function to monitor emerging issues and developments in biotechnology. 7. Establish and sustain links with similar international fora dealing with similar issues.

8. Develop the means to assess the effectiveness of its activities.

Publications :

- About the Bioethics Council

- Briefing to the Incoming Minister [November 2005]

- Bioethics Council Progress Report [May 2005]

Engaging with the public

Evaluation reports on the deliberation process used for the ‘Who gets born? Pre-birth testing’ project

- How to encourage public engagement in technology related dialogue processes [September 2006]

Human embryos for research

- Analysis of online discussion on the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of human embryo research [March 2007]

- Attitudes to Embryonic Stem Cell Research in New Zealand [February 2006]

- Human embryo research - qualitative research report [October 2006]

- The Cultural, Ethical and Spiritual Aspects of Using Human Embryos for Research [July 2006]

Human genes in other organisms

- The Cultural, Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of the Use of Human Genes in Other Organisms (Final report) [August 2004]

- Analysis of Submissions and On-line Discussion on the Use of Human Genes in Other Organisms [August 2004]

- Report to the Bioethics Council on the Dialogue Events focusing on Human Genes in Other Organisms [June 2004]

- The Transfer of Human Genes into other Organisms: A dialogue with Māori [May 2004]

- Whakapapa & the human gene [February 2004]

- Human genes in other organisms: Discussion booklet [January 2004]

- Reflections on the Use of Human Genes in Other Organisms: Ethical, Spiritual and Cultural Dimensions [January 2004]

- Human Genes in Other Organisms: Qualitative Research Report [August 2003]

Nanotechnology

- Report on nanotechnology to the Minister for the Environment [September 2003]

Neuroethics

- Neuroethics - A literature review prepared for Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council [July 2006]

Pre-birth testing

- Who gets born? A report on the cultural, ethical and spiritual issues raised by pre-birth testing [June 2008]

- Online Deliberation: Who Gets Born? Pre-birth testing [March 2008]

- Stories and ideas about pre-birth testing submitted to the Council [February 2008]

- Transcripts of pre-birth testing on-line deliberation groups [November 2007 - February 2008]

- Who Gets Born? Pre-birth Testing Choicebook [October 2007]

- Brochure on pre-birth testing issues [July 2007]

Evaluation reports on the deliberation process used for the ‘Who gets born? Pre-birth testing’ project

- Pre-birth Testing Project Evaluation Phase 2 [February 2008]

- Pre-birth Testing Project Evaluation [August 2007]

Submissions

- Submission to the Health Select Committee on the Public Health Bill [March 2008]

- Submission to ACART on Aspects of assisted Reproductive Technology [September 2007]

- Submission to Health Select Committee on the Human Tissue Bill [March 2007]

- Submission to ACART on embryo research [March 2007]

- Submission to the National Screening Unit on Newborn Blood Spot Cards: Consent, Storage and Use [March 2007] - A copy of the Council's submission is available on request. Please email info@bioethics.org.nz and quote the reference number 306439.

- Comments to the Ministry of Health on the “Guidelines on Using Cells from Established Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines for Research” [March 2006]

- Submission to the Health Select Committee on the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology ("HART") Bill SOP No. 80 [July 2003]

- Submission to the Education and Science Select Committee on New Organisms and Other Matters Bill [June 2003]

- Xenotransplantation: animal-to-human transplants

- The Cultural, Ethical and Spiritual Aspects of Animal-to-Human Transplantation (Final report) [August 2005]

- The Cultural, Spiritual and Ethical Aspects of Xenotransplation: Animal-to-Human Transplantation (Discussion document) [January 2005]

- Whakapapa & xenotransplantation: animal-to-human transplantation [January 2005]

Activités de consultation ou de débat public:

Analyse ou remarques:

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Comités nationaux de bioéthique ou d'éthique des sciences