Melbourne News

Monash Vice Chancellor praises new bioethics book

Thursday 25 October 2012

“IN recent years we have seen three dramatic frontiers of change which are civilisation-altering,” remarked Professor Ed Byrne, the leading neuroscientist now Vice-Chancellor of Monash University.  Professor Byrne identified the three dramatic elements as being the rise of Asia, the emergence of the “new physics” and revolution in the sciences of cell biology. 

“Each change in these sciences, touches upon what it means to be human and it so important to balance these advances in science with key issues in morality.  Nick (Nicholas Tonti-Filippini) has always worked on both frontiers.”

Professor Byrne addressed the annual dinner of the Catholic Doctors’ Association of Victoria which was attended by 70 guests ranging from medical student to politicians.  His address launched the most recent volume in Professor Nicholas Tonti-Filippini’s About Bioethics series entitled: Transplantation, Biobanks and the Human Body (Connor Court).

During his talk, Professor Byrne recalled his time in the 1980s as a very young Director of Neurology at Melbourne’s St Vincent’s Hospital where Nicholas was also the first of Australia’s hospital ethicists.   While tackling the often troubling bioethical issues which arose at St Vincent’s and elsewhere at that time, Nicholas Tonti-Filippini impressed Professor Byrne by his profound sense of the moral, his keen intellect, his respect for the positions of others and his ability “to roll up his sleeves and assist others.”

Professor Byrne paid tribute to these qualities which he said are evident in the present book which deals with a number of issues involving the use of human tissue, including transplantation.  “There is not a complex issue which the author resiles from … but he is always clear and he includes a really wonderful and clear discussion” about concrete issues surrounding organ donation. Prof Byrne thought this would be invaluable for health care professionals, those wishing to donate organs and the families of potential organ-donors.

The book clearly expresses reservations about recent developments surrounding the diagnosis of death by the brain criterion and about the commercialisation and trade in the biobanking of human tissue.  Professor Byrne said that he agreed with book’s assessment about brain death. He recommended the book very highly saying, it is “well written, researched and deep”.

Written by Anna Krohn and Hannah Hladik.
 
Photos by Hannah Hladik