Dr. Anthony Fauci and Mildred Solomon explored the ethical issues raised by the erosion of trust in science in a virtual discussion hosted by The Hastings Center on November 19. The nation’s top infectious diseases official and the Hastings president looked at how we can improve public understanding of complex scientific issues in this highly polarized, fraught time. Following the recent announcements that two Covid-19 are about 95 percent effective, Fauci and Solomon discussed the proper balance between safety and speed in the development of vaccines and new therapeutics. Specifically, in the speed to develop these and other vaccines, should people be concerned that there was a sacrifice of safety? Read more and watch the video of the event.
What Are the Risks of Precision Medicine Research?
Biomedical research is increasingly capitalizing on an array of data to illuminate the interplay between “omics,” lifestyle, and health. Leveraging this information presents opportunities to advance knowledge but also poses risks to research participants. A new article in Ethics & Human Research examined those risks. The authors of the article asked thought leaders (including genetics scientists, heads of bioethics and law centers, and scholars who study historically disadvantaged populations) which data type associated with a hypothetical precision medicine research endeavor was riskiest: 42% chose ongoing access to electronic health records, 17% chose genomic analyses of biospecimens, and 15% chose streaming data from mobile devices. Other responses included “It depends” (15%), the three types are equally risky (8%), and the combination of data types together is riskiest (3%). When asked to consider the hypothetical study overall, 60% rated the likelihood of the risks materializing as low, but 20% rated the potential consequences as severe. These results have implications for study design and informed consent, including placing appropriate emphasis on the risks and protections for the full range of data. Read the article.
Remember The Hastings Center on #GivingTuesday (December 1)!
This has been a year like no other. For all of us. Challenges raised by the pandemic, including tragic reminders of the health inequities deeply embedded in our culture, underscore the significant extent to which society needs bioethics to help chart the best path forward. With all its ups and downs, 2020 challenged The Hastings Center to elevate our research, public engagement, and societal impact. We seized the opportunity, influencing health care and science policy worldwide . . . but we can’t do it alone! As you consider your #GivingTuesday donations on December 1, please support our efforts to promote just and compassionate health care for all people and the wise use of emerging technology in health care and the environment.
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Upcoming Events
Learning to Love Other People’s Children: Climate Justice, Migration, and the Ethics of Care. Mohrenweiser Lecture Series, with Hastings Center research scholar Nancy Berlinger.December 4, 2020, 9 am.
Disrupting Ableism with Artful Activism.What will it take to bring about lasting justice for disabled people in the United States? When will every body—and everyvoice—be indispensable? Poets and activists Lateef McLeod and D.J. Savarese imagine a society led by people with disabilities and show how disabled communities are already building this world through creative forms of resistance. December 7, 2020, 3pm.
The Hastings Center seeks to ensure responsible health and science policy and practice. We work to secure the wisest possible use of emerging technologies and fair, compassionate, and just health care for people across their lifespan.
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