Genetics and Reproductive Decision-making
The working group's final report Making Babies: reproductive decisions and genetic technologies was published in January 2006.
An analysis of responses to HGC's consultation, Choosing the future: genetics and reproductive decision making, can be found here.Click here to view the 'Choosing the future' consultation document
The UK Government response to 'Making Babies' can be found here.
Aim
To collate information, take evidence and consider past, current and future developments in genetics services related to reproduction within the current legal framework and in terms of the technology and public attitudes towards its use.
The Genetics and Reproductive Decision-making Working Group was originally set up as a scoping group, which sought to identify issues relevant to genetics and reproduction and determine the remit of the future Working Group. For more details about the work of the scoping group, please see the left hand tool bar.
Terms of Reference
- To collate information, take evidence and consider past, current and future developments in genetic services related to reproduction within the current legal framework and in terms of ethics, the technology and public attitudes towards its use.
- To examine, in particular, advances as they relate to prenatal genetic screening services, prenatal genetic diagnosis and preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
- To work with existing bodies responsible for regulating and/or advising Government on genetics and reproduction including the National Screening Committee and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
- To work with HGC groups as appropriate to develop strategies for public consultation and discussion, to develop the working group’s knowledge about genetic services and horizon scan in the area of genetics and reproduction.
- To contribute to and/or respond, where appropriate, to emergent national debates about genetics services and their implications for reproductive decision making.
- To prepare and publish a consultation document and to consider other methods for obtaining the views of stakeholders and others.
- To identify from consultation and deliberation, sound ethical principles appropriate to genetic advances and services related to reproduction.
- To publish a report identifying our conclusions and recommendations pertaining to the ethical principles on genetic advances and services related to reproduction and to communicate these to Health & Science Ministers.
- To aim to publish a discussion document by April 2004, responses to the discussion document by the end of 2004, and a final report in 2005.
Members
Baroness Helena Kennedy (Co-chair, HGC)
Professor Martin Richards (Co-chair, HGC)
Dr Bill Albert (HGC)
Professor Brenda Almond (HGC)
Professor Elizabeth Anionwu (HGC, to Aug 04)
Professor John Burn (HGC)
Professor Angus Clarke (HGC CMO representative)
Dr Heather Draper (Co-opted HGC)
Dr Frances Flinter (Co-opted HGC)
Dr Hilary Harris (HGC, to Aug 04)
Professor John Harris (HGC)
Mr Michael Harrison (HGC, from Sept 04)
Dr Iona Heath (HGC, from Sept 04)
Dr Susan Johnson (HGC, from Sept 04)
Mr Alastair Kent (HGC)
Mrs Suzi Leather (ex officio Member)
Mrs Christine Patch (HGC)
Mr Peter Sayers (HGC)
Professor Veronica van Heyningen (HGC)
Dr Martin Whittle (Co-opted)
You can read the agendas and minutes of the Genetics and Reproductive Decision-making Working Group's meetings by clicking on the left tool bar.
