Bioethical implications of global mobility.
Rome, Jan 24-26, 2003

Background of the meeting

The Rome meeting has been the first expert meeting of the project and it has been devoted to the bioethical implications of global mobility.
Global mobility means a changed perception of space and time. Many issues are arising from a changed perception of the global space both at the level of international institutions and of national states and individual citizens. As part of this, the role of the individual will be examined, in particular the process of individualization within a global framework and its impact on traditional ethical issues such as respect for autonomy. Today mobile populations is made up of very different people and groups that have in common only the fact they all operate across borders. Mobile pupulations are vital actors of globalisation processes. They also pose - at different levels - different ethical challenges in the health field: from prevention of transmitted diseases to sexual tourism, till to recent initiatives to establish ethical guidelines for medical research in populations affected by conflict.
Cross-border health care and illegal trade in the healthcare field are other key issues. Ruling this very delicate issue promises to create new ethical and social challenges.

The meeting has been organised by the Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship -CSSC.
The CSSC is an indipendent institution, registered as a research centre by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (Anagrafe Nazionale delle Ricerche nr 52902MMF). The CSSC is directed by Prof. Emilio Mordini.

The EC scientific officer in charge of the project is Dr Line-Gertrud Matthiessen (Dg Research – Directorate E – Biotecnology, Agriculture and Food).