Director
Prof. Boleslav Goldman
Background
The Unit for Genetic Policy and Bioethics focuses on examining legal and ethical aspects of medical treatment and research in general, while emphasizing the innovative aspects of genetic medical research. The purpose of these activities is to formulate policy regulations for directing research and clinical activity.
We live in an era in which biological and genetic research are developing at a rapid rate, and genetic research applications have great impact on the science of medicine, and in creating and assimilating new research technologies.
Alongside these welcome innovations, there is an obvious and important need to formulate guidelines in order to facilitate worthy, equitable research and outline appropriate policy and regulations for putting these results to good purpose.
The Unit for Genetic Policy and Bioethics is committed to the freedom of academic research and to abiding by the highest possible standards of quality.
Aims and Objectives
- To develop an erudite infrastructure of comparative theoretical knowledge for discussing ethical questions on health system agendas in Israel and abroad, while focusing on fields of genetic research.
- To develop qualitative research methods for ethical application.
- To maintain a platform for inter-disciplinary academic discourse.
- To assist decision makers in the unit's fields of interest and related areas.
- To work together with academic and public bodies. In this context, the unit is currently working with Bar-Ilan University to establish the Bioethics Center.
- To promote intelligent public discussion about the unit's research topics.
Areas of Research
- Ethics and law in medicine, doctor-patient relationships
- Ethics and law in genetics
- Legal and ethical aspects of genetic medicine and research
- Social aspects of the entire health system and the influence of organizational, financial and cultural factors on public and private health.
- Special attention is given to human rights of weaker population groups, as a social justice issue.
Description of Activity
In addition to its research, the unit is also responsible for the Social Justice Forum, which hosts lectures addressing medical-social-ethical-legal issues and holds discussions and monthly meetings for academics and professionals in medicine and related fields from various institutions throughout Israel.
Legislation of the Genetic Information Law and scientific and medical developments have changed the status of medical geneticists and genetic consultants. The Unit, in cooperation with the School of Law, Ono Academic College, taught an in-service course on Ethical and Legal Aspects of Genetic Research in Israel, in which 30 genetic consultants, medical geneticists and obstetric gynecologists participated. Following the success of the course, the National Forum for Genetics, Ethics and Law in Israel was established to clarify and discuss practical ways of addressing urgent ethical and legal genetic issues. Forum members include senior figures from the research, medical, legal and social systems in Israel. The forum meets once every two months.
The unit publishes a periodic newsletter on innovations and developments in genetics, bioethics and law, in partnership with the School of Law, Ono Academic College.
In addition to its research, the unit is also responsible for the Social Justice Forum, which hosts lectures addressing medical-social-ethical-legal issues and holds discussions and monthly meetings for academics and professionals in medicine and related fields from various institutions throughout Israel.
The Team
The Unit's team is interdisciplinary in nature and includes researchers, doctors and jurists specializing in genetics and bioethics.
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