Issue Thirty Five

15 November 2011

Guest Editorial: Ethics Committees – guardians of research participants' rights or expediters of clinical research?

Our Guest Editorial, written by Sharron Cole, a highly respected and highly experienced former member of a Health and Disability Ethics Committee, offers a warning in the wake of recent recommendations that will affect the nature and functioning of health ethics committees in New Zealand. Put simply, the Government's plan is to downgrade the protection of participants in health research in New Zealand in the name of fast-tracking clinical research trials. These moves reflect the false and dangerous assumption that good ethics is a barrier to promoting science and research – a mind-set that is still all too common amongst some researchers. The downgrading of ethical oversight ignores the lessons of history in New Zealand as well as other parts of the world.

The dangers of euthanasia: A statement from the New Zealand Catholic Bishops

We feature the recently released New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Statement on the Dangers of Euthanasia. This Statement is timely given the renewed publicity about euthanasia that has followed in the wake of the trial of Sean Davison.

Reflection: "Every moment is an opportunity for greatness"

A short and poignant reflection on caring by palliative medicine specialist, Dr Sinéad Donnelly.

Why the elderly should fear euthanasia

In a further article on euthanasia Emeritus Professor David Richmond notes that while the drive to legalise euthanasia targets the elderly, they are the very people who have the most to fear from it.

We also offer three pieces that highlight the role and place of advance care planning.

The last word: The Catholic case for advance directives

Daniel Sulmasy makes the Catholic case for advance directives. While noting that some, out of fear of euthanasia and assisted suicide, have raised questions about the validity of such planning, he concludes that they fit squarely within the Catholic tradition. They should be viewed as tools to help families and physicians make good decisions when patients are no longer able to speak for themselves.

Advance Directives: A view from the office of the Health and Disability Commissioner

In an article that continues the theme of advance care planning Dr Cordelia Thomas from the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner describes the current legal situation in New Zealand regarding the use and validity of advance directives.

Guides for people considering their future health care

 Readers wishing to make plans for their future health care needs can access documents and guidelines prepared by (i) Catholic Health Australia and approved by the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference or (ii) the National Advance Care Planning Cooperative (New Zealand).

The hidden ideology of technicism

Finally, in an interesting and stimulating article, Petrus Simons reflects on the hidden ideology of technicism, challenging the notion that technological developments are inevitably beneficial for humans. The responsible use of technology requires that we apply our discoveries with a critical attitude. We need to abandon the metaphor of the earth as a machine and replace it with the biblically inspired metaphor of the garden-city.