"PHILOSOPHICALLY SPEAKING...":

After two years of deliberation, a World Health Organization advisory committee of bioethicists and scientists have released recommendations to establish guidelines for human gene editing, both somatic and germline (heritable).

"The Committee recognizes that current, potential and speculative human genome editing research will go beyond national borders, as will possible societal effects. This applies equally to somatic, germline and heritable human genome editing, although the latter is generally considered to be of greater ethical concern. Therefore, governance for this technology is needed at national levels (domestic policy including laws, regulations and guidelines) and transnational levels (including conventions and treaties, as well as coordination of cross-border movement of researchers, clinicians (including clinician or physician scientists) and research participants or patients). ... The Committee concludes that innovation in human genome editing should be driven by anticipated benefit to individuals and society in human health and collective well-being. In turn, good governance of emerging technologies should ensure that adequate protections are in place for people most in need of the potential benefits of human genome editing and people most likely to experience the potential harms, who may or may not be the same people. Equity of access to, and benefit from, human genome editing has been foundational to the Committee’s discussions."

You can read the entire 100+ page governance report, including the questions for consideration and the sample scenarios, the summary of recommendations, or the position paper by following the links here to download the desired documents: www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240030404