By Jennie Matthew
SCIENTISTS and policy makers from across the world are gathered in Paphos for the sixth European Conference of National Ethics Committees, under the general title, Genetics and Society: Opportunities and Threats .
It was inaugurated on Sunday by Acting President Demetris Christofias, Attorney-general Alecos Markides, Health Minister Frixos Savvides, the Chairwoman of the Bureau of European Conference of National Ethics Committees Nicole Questiaux and Senior Counsel Rena Petridou.
The conference was founded in Madrid in 1992 and has met since then in Stockholm, Paris, Oporto and Strasbourg, as an opportunity for academics, lawyers, scientists and policy makers to discuss issues indispensable in drawing up an internationally-accepted bio-ethical framework.
Delegates from the 40 member-states of the Council of Europe, the European Commission, representatives from National Bioethics Committees (co- ordinated by the International Bioethics Committee and UNESCO) international organisations, the US and Canada, are attending the three-day event in Paphos, in an effort to form a common policy on bioethical issues.
The Steering Committee of Bioethics, of which Petridou is the Cypriot representative, is now engaged with the drafting of additional protocols on genetics, organ and human tissue transplants, biomedical research, biotechnology and others.
In his opening address, the Attorney-general spoke of the value of lawmakers in striking a balance between ” unimaginably rapid technological progress”and the adequate protection of human rights and human dignity.
” We need a national as well as an international, clear and reliable legal system to solve emerging dilemmas in a balanced way,”he said.
Cyprus has signed the European Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine and its Protocol Prohibiting Human Cloning.
The Bill of Law on Bioethics 2001, which provides for the establishment and operation of a National Bioethics Committee in Cyprus, is scheduled for discussion at the House Plenum on Thursday.
Markides promised that the government would continue to assist the Council of Europe in the drafting and adoption of other future protocols and conventions on the protection of human rights from all possible abuse of biology and medicine.
For his part, Christofias drew an analogy between the ethical problems faced today and those confronted by the ancient Greeks.
He referred delegates to the Hippocratic oath – a doctor’s duty to respect patient confidentiality, look after his patient’s best interests and adhere to professional conduct.
” It is obvious that we live in the new era of genetics and biogenetics, but it would also be useful as in every important period to turn to history and draw wisdom, experiences and lessons, hoping to be protected from current and future mistakes and dangers,”he said.
For Savvides, issues of bioethics and human cloning are inescapable and fundamental.
” We are all called, the scientists, the politicians, the philosophers, the citizens and society, to be deeply concerned and sensitised in order to obtain the best possible utilization of the knowledge and avoid malpractice, “he said.
Today’s debate includes presentations on the significance of genetic screening for public health, prenatal screening, the human genome, patenting DNA, reproductive and therapeutic cloning.
Yesterday offered an overview of genetics today in Europe, North America and Canada.
Hosted by the government, the conference finishes today at the Coral Beach Hotel, Paphos.
