Exploration of the Danish Consensus Conference On Genetic Therapy

Author: Jixuan Zhou – Peking University, China

Consensus conference is a practical form of scientific communication. For a long time, the discussion of consensus conference mostly stays on the macro-study of its form and significance, lacking of detailed case study. Besides, there has been almost no content analysis of consensus conference. Denmark as the origin of the consensus conference, held five consensus conferences on gene topics from 1897 to 2002. Other countries also held consensus conferences on gene topics almost at the same time.

Therefore, this speech will combine the above issues with the theme of PCST Conference to take the Danish consensus conference on genetic therapy held in 1995 as case, and discuss the following aspects:

1. Background and overview of the Danish consensus conference on genetic therapy. Analyze the reason, process and main content of the conference.

2. Past: Problems of the Danish consensus conference on genetic therapy. Formally, the consensus conference did not achieve real consensus. The participation of conference is limited and the validity is low. In content, scientists and the public have different concerns. Under the influence of scientific communication and genetic essentialist, the public has the suspicion of exaggerating the harmfulness of genetic therapy unilaterally. So what are the consequences of the above problems?

3. Present: The situation of the consensus conference and genetic therapy in Denmark. The Danish Technical Committee was cancelled by the government in 2012 due to the low participation. Other countries have also stopped consensus conference on gene issues. Public attitudes toward genetic therapy did not change much. So what inspiration does this case told us?

4. Future: Put forward the improvement measures of the public understanding of science. We need to improve science communication, respect the multiple values of the “non-consensus”, and try to develop the way of dialogue between scientists and the public to the direction of nationalization, systematization and legalization.

Presentation type: Visual presentation
Theme: Time