Australian Health Ethics Committee

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Australian Health Ethics Committee

• Professor Colin Thomson
• address to
• International Dialogue on Ethics
• European Commission
• Bureau of European Policy Advisers
• Brussels
• 19 February 2009

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Establishment

• Created by Commonwealth legislation
• National Health and Medical Research Council Act
  1992, s.35
• A principal committee of the National Health and
  Medical Research Council

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National Health and Medical Research Council
principal committees
Chief Executive Officer
Council
Research Committee
Australian Health Ethics Committee
Human Genetics Advisory Committee
Embryo Research Licensing Committee
Public Health Committee
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Statutory functions

• to advise the Council on ethical issues relating
  to health
• to develop and give the Council human research
  guidelines
• any other functions conferred
• by the Minister after consulting the CEO
• by the Act, the regulations or any other law.
• On Committee re-appointment every three years,
  Minister confers additional functions

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Additional functions (current)

• develop and give the Council guidelines for the
  conduct of health research involving humans,
  additional to those required for function (b)
• 2. promote ethical conduct in health and medical
  research involving humans
• 3. support and facilitate the work of
  institutions and of human research ethics
  committees in the oversight of health and medical
  research

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Additional functions (current)

• 4. foster community debate, and consult with
  relevant stakeholders on ethical issues in
  health, and health and medical research
• 5. provide advice to Council on ethical issues in
  health research and medical research
• 6. monitor international developments in ethical
  issues relating to health and health and medical
  research involving humans, and liaise with
  relevant international organizations and
  individuals.

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Membership

• Chair (member of Council not member of
  Research Committee)
• Persons with
• knowledge of the ethics of medical research
• expertise in law
• expertise in philosophy
• expertise in religion
• experience in medical research
• experience in public health research
• experience in social science research
• experience in clinical medical practice
• experience in nursing or allied health practices
• knowledge of the regulation of the medical
  profession

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Membership (continued)

• understanding of health consumer issues
• understanding of the concerns of people with a
  disability and
• no more than 2 other persons with expertise
  relevant to the functions of the Committee.
• Membership to include membership of all other
  principal committees
• Before appointing new members, Minister required
  to consult appropriately

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Recent completed work

• National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human
  Research 2007 (revision)
• Challenging Ethical Issues in Contemporary
  Research in Human Beings
• Ethical guidelines on the use of assisted
  reproductive technology in clinical practice and
  research (revision)
• Ethical Guidelines for the Care of People in
  Post-Coma Unresponsiveness (Vegetative State) or
  a Minimally Responsive State
• A Guide for Families and Carers of People with
  Profound Brain Damage

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Recent completed work

• Organ and Tissue Donation After Death, For
  Transplantation Guidelines for Ethical Practice
  for Health Professionals
• Making A Decision About Organ and Tissue Donation
  After death
• Organ and Tissue Donation by Living Donors
  Guidelines for Ethical practice for Health
  Professionals
• Making A Decision About Living Organ and Tissue
  Donation

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More information

• http//www.nhmrc.gov.au/health_ethics/ahec/index.h
  tm

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Thank you