The Power of Bioethics, Politics and Business

In the decision-making involving biosciences and biotechnology, both politicians and the general public have come to increasingly rely on different kinds of experts and specialised bodies. Interest groups such as industry, religious authorities and consumer organisations also try to influence political decisionmaking, and the role of the media has not always been - it is claimed - as neutral as the public perceives it to be. At the same time, according to the democratic ideal, ultimate power should rest with the parliamentarians and with the people. Who has the power in decision-making in biotechnology? Can there be legitimate expertise in bioethics? How can we improve the power balance? These are some of the questions this book seeks to answer.

The articles in this book are based on papers delivered at two seminars: the first of them, entitled Business and Bioethics, concentrated on identifying and analysing the roles and potential conflicts of interest between the scientists, the biotechnological industry and the policy-makers. The second seminar, called Bioethics or Biopolitics? widened the perspective first of all to analyse decision-making in the area of biotechnology from the point of view of the democratic ideal, and secondly, to view the interrelationship between bioethics, politics and certain power players such as the expert bodies and the media.

(Foreword to the report Bioethics, Politics and Business, 2008)

 

Download the report: Bioethics, Politics and Business

The report is based on papers from two seminars:
1) Business and Bioethics, arranged in Malmö, Sweden, October 2006
2) Bioethics or Biopolitics?, arranged in Esbo, Finland, June 2007