One of the CEO’s functions under the NHMRC Act is to inquire into, issue guidelines on, and advise the community on ethical issues relating to health. This function includes the issuing of human research guidelines. Under Section 10(2) of the NHMRC Act, the Council may only provide human research guidelines to the CEO under Section 9(1) precisely as developed by AHEC.
Functions
The functions of AHEC, as set out in Section 35(3) of the NHMRC Act, are:
- to advise the Council on the ethical issues relating to health; and
- to develop and give the Council human research guidelines under subsection 10(2) of the NHMRC Act; and
- any other functions conferred on the Committee in writing by the Minister after consulting the CEO; and
- any other functions conferred on the Committee by the NHMRC Act, the regulations or any other law.
In the course of its activities, AHEC consults extensively with individuals, community organisations, health professionals and governments, and undertakes formal public consultation when developing guidelines. AHEC may also provide advice on international developments in health ethics issues.
Membership
AHEC's composition is specified in the NHMRC Act. Members draw on expertise in philosophy, the ethics of medical research, public health and social science research, clinical medical practice and nursing, disability, law, religion and health consumer issues.
Under Section 36(2) of the NHMRC Act, there must be included among members of AHEC individuals who collectively have membership of all the other Principal Committees.
There are 15 members of AHEC for the 2009-12 triennium.
Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC)
| Member | Position |
|---|---|
| Dr Sandra Hacker AO | Chair |
| Mr Graham Douglas-Meyer | Person with understanding of the concerns of people with a disability |
| Rev Dr Gerald Gleeson | Person who has expertise in religion |
| Professor Paul Griffiths | Person who has expertise in philosophy |
| Professor Clifford Hughes AO | Person with experience in clinical medical practice |
| Professor Helen Milroy | Person with expertise in the health needs of Aboriginal persons and Torres Strait Islanders |
| Professor Margaret O'Connor AM | Person who has experience in nursing or allied health practices |
| Professor Ian Olver AM | Person with knowledge of the ethics of the medical profession |
| Professor Margaret Otlowski | Person who has expertise in law |
| Associate Professor Peter Sainsbury | Person who has experience in public health research |
| Professor Loane Skene | Person with expertise in the field of medicine, genetics and the law |
| Mr John Stubbs | Person with understanding of health consumer issues |
| Professor Merrilyn Walton | Person with knowledge of the regulation of the medical profession |
| Dr Nikolajs (Nik) Zeps | Person who has experience in medical research |
| Professor Debra Rickwood | Person who has experience in social science research |
AHEC membership in the previous 2006-09 triennium
- Professor Colin Thomson
- Dr Gregory Pike
- Mr Christopher Coyne
- Professor Paul Griffiths
- Reverend Dr Gerald Gleeson
- Dr Nikolajs Zeps
- Associate Professor Peter Sainsbury
- Mr Barry Maley
- Dr Rosanna Capolingua
- Professor Margaret O’Connor
- Dr Marian Scarrabelotti
- Ms Sharon Caris
- Dr Nicholas Tonti-Filippini
- Associate Professor Terry Dunbar
- Professor Peter Silburn
Contact the Australian Health Ethics Committee
| Postal address |
AHEC Secretariat NHMRC GPO Box 1421 Canberra ACT 2601 |
| Email address | ethics@nhmrc.gov.au |
| Telephone | (02) 6217 9070 |