One of the most hotly debated topics this past few days has been where should the boundaries on embryo research be set. I think that any advances in research using human cells will raise ethical questions that need to be resolved. One thing that, to some extent, has puzzled me is why the debate on ethics has largely been portrayed as science versus the church. Most scientists will have their own set of ethical values, as do most people in any walk of life. I am sure that it is quite unjustified to equate ethical values and morals with religion. I am quite sure that most people from any culture have a sense of right and wrong. This won't require a faith in a mystical, unseen force and will almost certainly vary from person to person and between cultures. Surely the idea of an elected parliament is to debate and fix the ethical rules that society will follow. I don't think that within our parliament there should be a group, following a three-line whip, imposed by a force out side of that chamber and that has no accountability to the electorate.
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