Toi Te Taiao: The Bioethics Council meeting minutes - 12 June 2008

Held at Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Wellington

Present:

• Martin Wilkinson (Chair)
• Mark Fisher
• Waiora Port
• Helen Bichan
• Rosemary du Plessis
• Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop
• Cordelia Thomas
• Marie Bismark
• Brett Stephenson
• Huia Tomlins-Jahnke
• John Pennington
• Moana Durie Sinclair
• Angela Sheehan (Minutes)

The meeting commenced at 9.30 a.m.

Apologies: An apology was received from Tahu Potiki.

1. Karakia and Welcome

Helen, as Acting Chair, welcomed everyone to the meeting, and Tahu gave a karakia.

2. Apologies

An apology was received from Tahu Potiki.

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting

Correct the spelling of Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop’s name.

In relation to item 6, the debate on the report on pre-birth testing, the Secretariat was asked to include a little more detail about what the Council discussed, and concluding by stating that the working group would incorporate the changes into the next iteration of the report.

Flesh out the reference to collaborating with MRST by referring to the Research Agenda 2020 and the Futures Steering Group.

In item 10.1 Insurance the action point on liability insurance needs to be carried over to the action list.

The action point about finalising the “Who Gets Born” draft report should be attributed to the full working group.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 April 2008, as amended, be accepted as a true and correct record, and be placed on the website.

Martin / Mark - CARRIED

4. Matters Arising – Action List

The updated action list was reviewed, and the following noted in particular:

• Insurance - John said that the Ministry was currently reviewing all its insurance and was taking the Council’s question about coverage into consideration in that review.
• Conflict of Interest - Those who had not returned their forms to Secretariat, please do so.

5. Chair’s Report

The Chair reported as follows:

• He had met with Nick Smith.
• He had discussed the appointment of new BEC members with Prue Densem.
• He had agreed to remain as a Council member after he steps down as Chair.
• He is continuing his programme of relationship building, and will be having meetings with Hon. Tony Ryall, National Party spokesperson on health, and Di McCarthy from the Royal Society.

6. Deciding the 2008-09 Work Programme

Embryos
The Council agreed not to engage in any large-scale public engagement project at this time, but agreed to retain sufficient capacity to be in a position to meet needs as they arise including making submissions.

Water
Council discussed the issues around whether it should take on a project on water.

The Council agreed that it would not undertake public engagement in this area, but did agree it would make a contribution where it can to the Ministry for the Environment and others with respect to the use of deliberative processes.

7.  Nanotechnology – Presentation by Dr Simon Brown

Dr Brown’s main research interest is in the properties of nanometre scale particles (called “atomic clusters”) and in developing ways of building nano-electronic devices from these clusters. His work forms part of the programme of the Nanostructure Engineering Science and Technology (NEST) Group at the University of Canterbury.

Possible ethical issues
The Centre for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University has a website (www.cns.asu.edu) that lists the possible ethical issues and has a discussion forum on the ethical implications of new technology. The human enhancement technologies are ones that will clearly have ethical issues. In addition, nanotechnology is already being used in 100 food or food packaging projects. 

Dr Brown said that it was important to have public dialogue about the new types of technologies that will come about through nanotechnology.

Dr Brown agreed to send a copy of his PowerPoint presentation to the Secretariat who would distribute it to Council.

6. Deciding the 2008-09 Work Programme (resumed)

Nanotechnology
Council Members were enthusiastic about nanotechnology being a major work item, and gave it high priority.    

Rural Strategy
Mark referred to the decision in previous minutes to start pursuing a strategy of engagement with rural communities regarding the process by which they are informed about and decide to adopt new biotechnologies. The Council agreed to undertake a framing exercise, to explore the issues in biotechnology of importance to people in rural areas. From this decisions could be made about the scale of a potential project. 

Genetic Testing
Council Members agreed not to pursue a project on genetic testing at this time.

Tikanga and Biotechnology
This project is ongoing.

Summary

1. Nanotechnology would be the next major project
2. Undertaking a framing exercise with rural communities about biotechnology issues would be part of the work programme
3. Tikanga and Biotechnology would continue

Nanotechnology Working Group
The following Council Members will be on the working group:
Marie, Martin, Brett, Rosemary, Tahu (to be approached)

Action: Secretariat to produce an options paper for the next meeting.

Rural Persons Working Group
The following Council Members will be on the working group: Mark (Chair), Huia, and Secretariat Member.

Marie noted that it was important to retain the capacity to respond to topical and emerging issues.

9. Launch of the Pre-Birth Testing Report

The Council noted the running sheet for the launch of the Pre-Birth Testing Report, and other details of the media launch.

It was agreed that the Secretariat liaise with Waiora, Peggy, and others about a strategy for the dissemination of the report to groups who had assisted the Council to arrange deliberative events.

Action: Secretariat

10. Sponsorship Application

The Council declined an application on the basis that its scope was not within the Council’s current work programme.

11. Variance Report

There was no written Variance Report. John said that they were under budget and not in danger of exceeding it.

12. Secretariat Report

The Secretariat Report was noted.

Moana gave a verbal report on her attendance at the Nga Pae conference. She advised that her paper had been well received.

Cordelia’s ELSI conference report was noted.

13. Conflicts of Interest

Conflict of interest notifications were tabled.

14. Other Business

14.1 Schools Debating Contest
The Secretariat was to look at how the Council’s profile can be further improved at next year’s Schools Debating Contest.

Action: Secretariat

14.2 Council Expenses Claims
The Chair clarified the policy on claiming expenses: in order for Council Members to claim for work they have done, either it needs to be work asked for by the Council, or, if volunteering, work pre-approved by the Council or the Chair.

15. Farewell to Helen Bichan

The Chair, on behalf of Council, outlined Helen’s involvement on the Council over many years. He stated that it had been a pleasure working with her, and she would be sadly missed.

On behalf of the Secretariat, John Pennington expressed appreciation for Helen’s contribution.

Helen replied with a poem about the time she had been involved with the Council. She thanked everyone for their kind words and gift.

There being no further business, the meeting was declared closed at 3.30 p.m. with a Celtic blessing from Helen.

Action list

• Amend and place minutes on website

Action secretariat

• Produce an options paper on nanotechnology

Action secretariat

• Consider how the Council’s profile can be enhanced at next year’s Schools Debating Contest.

Action: Secretariat

• Develop strategy for the dissemination of the report to groups who had assisted the Council to arrange deliberative events

Action: Secretariat

• Distribute Dr Brown’s presentation  to Council

 
Action: Secretariat