LAWIN partner Dr. Jaunius Gumbis has been appointed a member of the Vilnius Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee

The Rector of Vilnius University, by his Order of 17 January 2012, appointed LAWIN partner Dr. Jaunius Gumbis as a member of the Vilnius Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee. The Committee consists of 9 members, who may be appointed by the University from among biomedical, social or humanitarian researchers who have an academic degree.

The main activities of the Vilnius Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee include the analyses of bioethical problems, education and consulting on bioethical matters, issuance of permits to carry out biomedical research and ethical supervision over the process of rendering health care services in order to protect patients’ rights and dignity.

“Development of advanced biomedicine is inconceivable without discussions about its moral, social and legal aspects. The fast progress of life sciences and related technologies, development of genetics and new modern fields of medicine allow for new ways to protect and extend human life and overcome complicated diseases. The practical application of modern technologies gives rise to many ethical problems, the possible solutions of which are analysed by bioethics, i.e. contemporary medicinal ethics”, – says Dr. Jaunius Gumbis.

Regional biomedical research ethics committees, such as the Lithuanian Bioethics Committee, are the only institutions of the Lithuanian State whose purpose is to analyse bioethical issues and to develop general bioethics policy.