Bioethics Committees and Commissions

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Bioethics Committees and Commissions

Since its inception in the 1970s, bioethics has been manifested not only in academic debate but also in committees or commissions directed toward the guidance of public discussion and policy making. In the research and clinical settings, Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs), and Hospital Ethics Committees (HECs) serve the practical functions of bringing reflective expertise and modest public consensus to bear on ethical implementations of advancing scientific and technological forms of medicine and other biological research. At the state, national, and international levels, more general committees and commissions have sought to provide reflective consideration and policy guidance. These committees come in three types: term-limited, ad hoc, and permanent. The role these committees and commissions play in government and society depends on their structure and mission, the larger historical and social contexts, and trade-offs between broader, more fundamental inquiry and narrower, more policy relevant recommendations.

Bioethics Commissions in the United States

There are two broad classifications for federal bioethics commissions and committees in the United States: general and topic specific. General bioethics commissions have been appointed by Congress or the President to conduct inquiries into a diversity of issues and have both fostered wide-ranging public discussion and produced targeted policy recommendations.

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