New bioethics institute. (Canada).Toronto--On December 6, 2001, the Canadian Catholic Bioethics bioethics, in philosophy, a branch of ethics concerned with issues surrounding health care and the biological sciences. These issues include the morality of abortion, euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, and organ transplants (see transplantation, medical). Institute held an open house followed by a meeting of bioethicists and members of other professions in relevant fields. The event was sponsored by the Guilds of Catholic lawyers, doctors and teachers, and by the Pastoral Care Workers' Group and the Catholic Civil Rights League. The Institute has now been accepted by all Canadian Catholic bishops. A temporary board is in place and a permanent board will be appointed in a year. The Institute supports the concept of multidisciplinary research. It is currently studying the issue of stem cell stem cell In living organisms, an undifferentiated cell that can produce other cells that eventually make up specialized tissues and organs. There are two major types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. research and plans to produce a comprehensive report in June 2002. A "think tank" is planned in June 2002 in Guelph. Topics for discussion may include the health care of children and the mentally illl, end of life care, and the rationing rationing, allotment of scarce supplies, usually by governmental decree, to provide equitable distribution. It may be employed also to conserve economic resources and to reinforce price and production controls. of health care. It was also suggested that a questionnaire for young people be prepared in which they are asked about sexuality and ethics. This could be a web-based research and be ready for "World Youth Day." A strategy for dealing with the media was discussed, and it was proposed that there be a list of speakers who would put "talking points" together on various issues with the help of media training. A calendar will be produced, a web-site developed, and a data base of persons involved in specific areas of research provided. The Institute has prepared a preliminary response to news of the first cloned embryo embryo (ĕm`brēō), name for the developing young of an animal or plant. In its widest definition, the embryo is the young from the moment of fertilization until it has become structurally complete and able to survive as a separate organism. and also the first volume of a publication called "Bioethics," dated November 2001, on the subject of "Human Embryonic Stem Cell Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) are stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of an early stage embryo known as a blastocyst. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4-5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50-150 cells. ES cells are pluripotent. Research: Unsettled Questions." The meeting was well attended and was honoured by the presence of His Grace Luigi Ventura, the recently appointed Papal Nuncio Noun 1. papal nuncio - (Roman Catholic Church) a diplomatic representative of the Pope having ambassadorial status nuncio Church of Rome, Roman Catholic Church, Roman Church, Western Church, Roman Catholic - the Christian Church based in the Vatican and to Canada. |
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