ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION GENE-THERAPY AND SOCIETY - SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

An international group consisting of scientists!, physicians, and one lawyer reported on the problems of gene therapy with regard to society in their respective countries and discussed ethical, legal and scient ific aspects of gene therapy. Ethical questions and fear in society we re addressed by Dr Odenbach, former Secretary General of the German Me dical Association, member of the German Parliamentary Enquiry Commissi on, 'Prospects and Risks of Gene Technology' and present adviser of th e Ethical Committee of the World Medical Association, and by PH Hofsch neider, Professor of Virology at the Max-Planck-lnstitut for Biochemis try, Munich, with a long-time strong interest in medical ethics; legal aspects were addressed by H Hausheer, Professor of Civil Law with man y years experience in constitutional law and jurisdiction in Switzerla nd. Medical and scientific aspects were discussed by R Strohman, Emeri tus Professor of Molecular Biology, Berkeley, USA, F Takaku, President of the International Medical Center of Japan and Chairman of the Cent ral Evaluation Committee of the Japanese government for gene therapy, Tokyo and J Goldman, Professor of Leukemia Biology at Hammersmith Hosp ital, London, and known for his pioneering work in bone marrow transpl antation. The discussion was moderated by R Hehlmann, Professor of Med icine at the University of Heidelberg and member of the World Commitee of the International Association.