Ethics and law

Research on embryonic stem cells, patents on genes? How far does the freedom of research go and where are its social limits? Research on ethical, legal and social aspects of the biosciences attempts to find answers to these questions. It is the task of an innovation-oriented research policy to strike a balance between ethics and progress and to accompany and support all legislative processes touching on aspects of bioscience research. The most recent example of this is the Law allowing the import of embryonic stem cells, which entered into force at the beginning of July 2002.

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Biosciences and biomedicine are inseparably linked with legal and ethical questions relating to humans and their environment. It is therefore one of the tasks of an innovation-oriented research policy to accompany and support national and international legislative processes touching on aspects of bioscience research. The most recent example of this is the Law allowing the import of embryonic stem cells, which entered into force at the beginning of July 2002.

The public debate about the benefits and drawbacks of modern technology is frequently emotionally charged. It is, however, necessary to base decisions on plausible facts and rational reasons. In view of the ethical aspects involved, the BMBF is therefore funding projects on research into the ethical, legal and economic aspects of bioscience research within the framework of its support for scientific research.

In order to match the increasing importance to society of bioethical research in the institutional area as well, the Deutsches Referenzzentrum für Ethik in den Biowissenschaften (DRZE) (German Research Centre for Ethics in the Life Sciences) was established in 1998 with BMBF project funds. The DRZE's task is to ensure the central availability of information required for making qualified ethical judgments on issues of the modern biosciences and their medical application as well as for strengthening Germany's presence in the international debate.

A central role in advising the German Federal Government on ethical questions involved in research is played by scientists. The National Ethics Council, which was set up in 2001, prepared independent statements on topical ethics questions in the field of the life sciences,  networked the scientific debate with the social discourse and took part in the international dialogue. The Council will in 2007 be superseded by the German Ethics Council, that will advise not only the Federal Government but also the German Parliament. Both will nominate half of the 26 council members. The council works on the basis of a law that was passed by the Bundesrat on 8th of June 2007.

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