HHS Seeking Nominations for Board to Decide Ethics of Tax-Funded Research on Aborted Babies

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The Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday that it is seeking nominations for the National Institute of Health Research Ethics Advisory Board. Part of this board's duties will include deciding the ethics of using aborted babies in medical research.

“The Board will be composed of 15 individuals who are not federal employees,” the announcement says. The board will include at least one attorney, ethicist, practicing physician, and theologian. Furthermore, at least one half of the appointments must be “scientists with substantial accomplishments in biomedical or behavioral research.”

“The Ethics Board will advise, consult with, and make recommendations to, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) regarding the ethics of research involving human fetal tissue (HFT) proposed in NIH grant and cooperative agreement applications and R&D contract Proposals,” the announcement continues. “Recommendations will address whether the Secretary should withhold funds or not withhold funds from a proposed project because of ethical considerations. In providing advice and recommendations on these matters, the Ethics Board will consider, among other things, the use of alternative models, and review and verify the core ethical principles and procedures used in the process to obtain written voluntary informed consent for the donation of the tissue.”

Directions and necessary materials for nominations are included in the announcement. Nominations must be received within the next 30 days.

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