Archbishop Peter Jensen’s bioethics advisor, Dr Megan Best, has been appointed to the key regulatory body for embryonic stem cell research by the Federal Government.
The nine-person committee was established by the controversial Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002, passed by Parliament last year.
The Committee, operating as part of the National Health and Medical Research Centre (NHMRC), will consider all bids by companies to use excess embryos in research. Research involving embryos results in the destruction of those embryos.
The Act does not limit the use of embryos to direct research for therapies and some critics of the Act say that cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies may gain access to the embryos. The Committee also has the power to revoke licenses if companies fail to comply with the legislation.
Dr Best is a lecturer in health law and medical ethics at the University of New South Wales. She is a member of the Sydney Diocese’s Social Issues Executive and carried forth the Diocese’s work on the campaign in the lead up to the vote in Parliament.
Dr Best welcomes her appointment to the Committee. “I hope to find my work with the Committee a challenging and rewarding experience,” she said.
Dr Best will be joined on the committee by fellow Anglican Dr Christopher Newell. Dr Newell is an ordained Anglican minister and disabilities activist, and lectures in medical ethics at the University of Tasmania.
