The medical, financial, and political aspects of embryo research are exciting, promising and controversial. Stell cell research may lead to new cures for today's incurable diseases. But what are the ethical impediments and imperatives of working with embryos? Why is the US out of step with so much of the rest of the world? Men are making the ethical and financial decisions in this field, but the need for eggs is such that women are likely to become powerful agents. The US is urgently in need of laws to regulate IVF and embryo research. The UK has achieved gender equality in decisions about embryo research and is liberal in permitting new treatments and research projects. Join us in hearing Lady Deech discuss these urgent issues. Audience participation in discussion welcomed.
Ruth Deech studied law at Oxford University. She was Principal of St Anne's College, Oxford, and a deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University. She has been chair of the UK Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority, responsible for monitoring IVF treatment and research. She was a governor of the BBC for four years, and has been a Trustee of the Rhodes Scholarships. Since 2005, she has been a "cross-bench" (non party aligned) member of the House of Lords, and thus serves in Britain's Parliament. Since retiring from Oxford, she has held the post of Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, acting as a national student ombudsman.
Professor Londa Schiebinger will moderate discussion following Lady Deech's lecture.
This lecture is co-sponsored by the Stanford Center on Ethics, Program in Ethics in Society, the Program for Stem Cell Research, and the Center for Biomedical Ethics.