Science and Health

Top bioethics meeting held in Singapore

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-26 11:34

SINGAPORE - Singapore held a conference on Monday to discuss guidelines set out by the World Health Organization (WHO) on controversial issues such human organ trading, assisted suicide and research ethics.

Related readings:  Artificial life? Synthetic genes 'boot up' cell  Trial focuses on organ trafficking ethics  Take my organs, spare my life: Convict  Call for action to stop organ trade

According to local newspaper the Straits Times, delegates from over 30 countries and regions will descend for the Eighth Global Summit of National Bioethics Advisory Bodies, which will bring together officials from international bodies such as the United Nations and the European Union.

The summit is the first bioethics conference to be held on this scale in Singapore. It was last held in Paris, France in 2008.

Over the last decade, Singapore, along with many other countries, has had to grapple with debates on the ethics of issues such as providing compensation for organ donors or the legitimacy of physician-assisted suicide, which have polarized public opinion.

Recommendations made during the two-day conference will be sent to WHO members, which will then go on to use them to guide policymaking.