| A Dim Future |
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Special Report After disbanding the President’s Council on Bioethics, what kind of advisory body will Obama put together?By Elenor K. Schoen
Not related to HHS, but only housed there for administrative reasons, the present council was established by President George W. Bush’s executive order in November 2001. The 18 members were chosen by Bush from among a group of leading scientists, doctors, ethicists, social scientists, lawyers, and theologians. The council was chaired by Dr. Leon Kass, MD, PhD for its first four years, and by Edmund Pelligrino, MD during Bush’s second term. With a new president in office now, the present bioethics council’s term was set to expire on September 30, 2009. The abrupt early disbanding of the council led to the cancelation of a meeting planned for late June, which was to include, among other things, reflections from council members on “The Future of National Bioethics Commissions.” According to Bush’s executive order, the President’s Council was created to “advise the president on bioethical issues that may emerge as a consequence of advances in biomedical science and technology.” The New York Times reported that White House press officer Reid Cherlin said President Obama will appoint a new bioethics commission, one with a “new mandate” which “offers practical policy options.” Judging from Obama’s preliminary policies, the future reincarnation of the bioethics council will no doubt be decidedly different. Whether the new bioethics commission will function mainly as a mouthpiece for the president, or as an independent advisory board, will be made more apparent in Obama’s choices in picking a chair and members, and in creating its mandate for serving under him during his first presidential term. |
Within
the recesses of the US Department of Health and Human Services, the
President’s Council on Bioethics quietly went about its work, as it had
done, under various titles and different mandates, for over 30 years.
However, during the week of June 8, 2009, council members received
letters from President Obama letting them know their services were no
longer required. The present council will be shutting its doors.
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