New technology
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill - Report stage
A briefing paper, published in October 2008, on the BMA's views on issues for Report Stage in the House of Lords on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. These issues include: 'saviour siblings', gamete donation and also discussion on amendments relating to abortion such as doctors' signatures and medical criteria, approved premises, abortions carried out by non-doctors, extension of the Abortion Act to Northern Ireland, counselling and information giving, conscientious objection to abortion and serious fetal abonormality.
People have long been interested in improving their brainpower. Developments in medicine and pharmacy could provide new ways of doing this. This paper discusses the ethics of the future development and use of cognitive enhancements.
Boosting your brainpower: Ethical aspects of cognitive enhancements, November 2007BMA response to the Joint Committee's report on the draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, press release 1 August 2007
The BMA is delighted that the Westminster Parliament's Joint Committee has said the Government’s plans to merge the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Tissue Authority to form one organisation should be rejected.Human tissue legislation
This guidance from the BMA's Medical Ethics Department and published in September 2006, sets out the main provisions of the Human Tissue Act 2004 (covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006, and describes the principal ways in which they impact on clinical and research practice.