New project on ethical aspects on robots and surveillance in the health care of the elderly
The Swedish National Council on Medical Ethics met in Kalmar, Sweden, the 22-23 of May 2014, for its yearly two-day meeting, to discuss current ethical matters and issues and to meet representatives from the Kalmar County Council. Among other things, the Council started up a new project concerning ethical aspects on robots and surveillance in the health care of the elderly.
In this document the Swedish National Council on Medical Ethics rejects commerce with non-fertilized eggs, kidneys and commercial surrogacy arrangements. The Council discusses the essential ethical issues that the international, and sometimes illegal, commerce raises. In the document it is also discussed what principles that should be guiding the compensation given to egg donors and when compensation turns into illegal trafficking of organs.
Reality TV shows in hospitals – an ethical problem
Commercial filming in healthcare settings is becoming more common. In a debate-article on March 18 2014 the Swedish National Medical Ethics council urge county councils and hospital managements not to write contracts with TV companies when the agreement might violate patient integrity and privacy.
New project – shaken baby syndrome
The Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment starts up a new projcet about "Shaken baby syndrome" in collaboration with the Swedish National Council on medical ethics.
Mitochondrial inherited disorders are progressive and may cause very severe disease, suffering and premature death. They are inherited from the mother and can be caused by aberrations in the mitochondrial DNA. Novel techniques are being developed that may provide a possibility to prevent children from inheriting the disorders from their mothers. The techniques involve replacement of damaged DNA with DNA from healthy donors in the process of IVF. The ethical issues that are raised by this new technology will be highlighted in an open seminar hosted by the Council.
On 28 February, the Swedish National Council on Medical Ethics presented a new report on assisted reproduction. Topics that are explored are, among others, surrogate motherhood, embryo donation, social egg freezing and age limits concerning fertility treatments. The ethical analyses are accomplished by the Council´s recommendations on several matters. One of the main conclusions is that it is time to allow new treatment possibilities in Sweden.
Ethics Councils of Denmark and U.S. release reports on genetic testing
The 2 of November the Danish Council of Ethics released a new report on genetic analyses, supplemented with the Council's recommendations. One of the recommendations is that people seeking genetic tests should be offered a ‘genetic counselor’ who can advise them about the ethical dilemmas they might face after taking a test. A few weeks earlier, the Ethics Council of U.S. released a report on whole genome sequencing and privacy.
The 8 of November the Swedish National Council on Medical Ethics arranged a seminar on the theme autonomy, patient empowerment and integrity. During the seminar various topics were discussed including possibilities and risks of new technologies, patients’ different access to health care information and choices, paternalism and patient centered care.
The Cyprus National Bioethics Committee hosted this year's “NEC Forum” that took place in Nicosia from 4 to 5 October. This year students from schools in Cyprus and Greece had been invited to participate in group discussions on the subject “Ethics and Education“. Another main subject of the meeting was “Responsible Research and Innovation”. The Swedish National Council on Medical Ethics was represented by members of the secretariat.
The Swedish council on medical ethics is giving a conferens on the subject autonomy, patients´rights and advocacy.
Read more.
Tunisia hosted the WHO meeting Global Summit of National Ethics Committees (NECs) on September 26-28 2012. This was the first time an Arab and Muslim country was responsible for the summit and the first time it took place in Africa. The summit gathered participants from NECs from a large number of countries.
Please find the presentations made by the Swedish delegation.
Current projects: assisted reproduction & patient integrity and empowerment
Currently the council is reasessing its earlier statements concerning diffrent methods of treatment of infertility. The council will focus on patient integrity and empowerment in the upcoming work in the autumn 2012.
Newsletter from the Swedish National Council on Medical Ethics, June 2011
Read the newsletter for June 2011.
Newsletter from the Swedish National Council on Medical Ethics, December 2010
Read the Council's newsletter for December 2010
Conference report from the Ethical seminar 2009
The conference report from the Ethical seminar 2009 "Body and soul – Ethical Aspects of Scientific Progress wtihin Neuroscience" is now available to be downloaded.
Ethical aspects on a new method of prenatal diagnosis
The Swedish Council on Medical ethics and the Standing Committee on Health and Welfare of the Swedish Parliament will organise a seminar in the Swedish Parliament on Thursday October 22.
14th Forum of National Ethics Councils (NEC Forum)
The 14th Forum will take place in Stockholm on 17-18 September. The theme of the meeting is Justice in Health and Health Care. The meeting is organized in collaboration between the European Commission (DG RTD) and the Swedish National Council on Medical Ethics, SMER.
Joint Meeting EGE -SMER
A Joint Meeting between European Group of Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE), and Swedish National Council on Medical Ethics (SMER), will take place in Stockholm on 16 September.
Human/animal combinations in research
The National Council on Medical Ethics has sent a letter to the Government to direct its attention to developments in biological research with regard to the mixing of human and animal material.
End of life issues, decision-making and patient autonomy
The National Council on Medical Ethics has sent a letter to the Government accompanied by a discussion paper developed by a working group within the Council.
The paper of the working group deals with end-of-life decisions and is structured around five model cases of increasing controversy.
Risk of violations of children’s rights in health care due to ambiguous regulations
In a letter to the Swedish government the National Council on Medical Ethics proposes a review of legal options to enhance children’s rights in healthcare.
Opinion on new method for risk assessment as a basis for decision-making in prenatal diagnosis
The Council has considered a new method using a combination of ultrasound and maternal biochemistry to determine the risk of chromosomal anomalies in the foetus. The result of this combined test contributes to the decision whether or not to offer/perform genetic prenatal diagnosis.
The Genetic Integrity Act (2006:351)
Translation Swedish Code of Statutes no 2006:351.