In the news

The Public Involvement subgroup of the Human Genetics Commission (HGC) recently discussed the development of the Commission's public involvement strategy, which has three overlapping strands: consultation, the media, and information. The Commission has already undertaken several broad, public consultation exercises; members of the group agreed that in addition there should be opportunities for public comment on reports at the draft stage, perhaps at the open HGC meetings, as well targeted consultation with stakeholders on some specific issues. One such stakeholder group will be a Patients' Panel, whose views on key issues will inform the deliberations of the HGC. It was decided that the panel (which will probably be given a more appropriate name) should be as large as practicable, perhaps about 100 members, and that it should consist of people directly affected by genetic disorders, either as patients or as family members or carers. The Panel would work through a combination of meetings and communication by e-mail, a web-based discussion forum, and post.

Collaboration between the HGC and the media may be enhanced by the decision of the BBC to initiate a major project in genetics that will run through late 2001 and 2002 and include an integrated series of television and radio programmes as well as a genetics website and on-line "learning journeys" linked to other educational resources. The HGC will nominate a member to join the steering group for the project. As discussed at the meeting of the Business Committee, the Commission also plans to make its own contribution to genetics education, by publishing key factual information on its website and featuring topics of interest in its newsletter.