New German bioethics inquiry panel

The German parliament is to set up a new inquiry panel to look at the ethical and legal aspects of biomedicine, according to a news report in last week's Nature. It will consider the issues surrounding areas in which recent scientific developments have exposed a lack of appropriate legislation, for example stem cell research and genetic testing.

The announcement follows 18 months of controversy. Opponents have argued that it would lead to cumbersome discussions, which might delay bringing German legislation of biomedicine into line with the rest of Europe. But Social Democrat secretary of research Wolf-Michael Catenhausen, who originally opposed the inquiry, is happy with its new, streamlined remit. He said he was optimistic it would focus on really important issues such as therapeutic cloning.

The panel, to be made up of 13 members of parliament and an equal number of external experts, will begin work next month. It is not expected to include people who hold 'extreme' positions, which, according to Catenhausen, will reduce the chances of conflict found in the initial proposal.