AUCKLAND The Nathaniel Centre, the Church’s national bioethics centre, is deeply disappointed that the Government is dismantling the Bioethics Council. Established following a royal commission of inquiry into genetic modification, the Bioethics Council provided a very important mechanism for informing and engaging with the public on the use of new biotechnologies and other bioethical issues, according to Nathaniel Centre director Fr Michael McCabe.
The council has helped New Zealand society explore the cultural, spiritual and ethical implications of emerging biotechnologies and has done so between parties holding widely divergent views, he added.
Fr McCabe said the decision was particularly regrettable because bioethical issues are going to become more complex in the future.
He also criticised the National Governments lack of due public process in the decision to scrap the council.
