The Ethics of Transplantation Film Festival
27 October 2006
The first ever first film festival concerning the broader ethical issues relating to organ transplantation comes to the Edinburgh Filmhouse on 10–12 November 2006.
Supported by a grant from the UK's largest medical research charity, the Wellcome Trust, 'The Ethics of Transplantation' will provide an opportunity to explore the ethical, moral and social issues raised by cult classics such as '21 Grams' starring Sean Penn, and 'Pig Heart Boy', based on the novel of Marjorie Blackman.
Dr Calum McKellar, Festival Coordinator and Director of Research for the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics commented: "This film festival is, to my knowledge, a first of its kind on the international stage. It is also very timely considering that Scotland has just introduced a new law on organ transplantation in order to address the ever growing waiting lists for organs. The possibility of being able to use organs from other sources is now being increasingly considered."
Clare Matterson, Director of Medicine, Society and History at the Wellcome Trust commented:
"The Wellcome Trust has a firm commitment to actively engage the public with science that is topical and raises ethical issues that need debate. This impressive programme of films is no exception, and hopefully the audiences will discuss, debate and learn more about the science and the ethical issues regarding transplantation."
Audiences at the festival will take part in lively discussions not only on transplantation but also on organ trafficking and selling, and xenotransplantation (putting animal organs into humans) with a specialist panel including: Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Chair of the Health Committee of the Scottish Parliament; Sue Roff, Dundee University Medical School; Dr Rhona Knight from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics; and Leslie Logan, Regional Manager of UK Transplant.
In July 2006, a record number of 784 patients in Scotland were waiting for a life-saving organ transplantation. Recent NHS figures have revealed that the number of people on the waiting list had risen by 17 per cent over the past five years. The problem is however not unique to Scotland, as all around the world the waiting lists for organs increase. In the UK approximately 400 people die annually while waiting for an organ.
To try to address this problem, new legislation was prepared by the Scottish Parliament on 1 September 2006 with the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act. The Act will stop nearest relatives opposing the removal of an organ from a deceased person if he or she made an explicit decision to donate their organs upon their death.
The film festival will explore the ethical implications of the Act from different perspectives.
Media enquiries
Wellcome Trust
Mike Findlay
T +44 (0)20 7611 8612
E
m.findlay@wellcome.ac.uk
Notes to editors
1. The Wellcome Trust is the most diverse biomedical research charity in the world, spending about £450 million every year both in the UK and internationally to support and promote research that will improve the health of humans and animals. The Trust was established under the will of Sir Henry Wellcome, and is funded from a private endowment, which is managed with long-term stability and growth in mind.
2. The Edinburgh Filmhouse is the largest film charity supporting cultural films in Edinburgh and is Scotland's leading independent cinema. It is internationally renowned as a venue for dynamic programming and debate and is the most successful outside London. Its key aim is to challenge and inform by the delivery of an essential, intelligent and enlightening programme for all audiences.
3. The Scottish Council on Human Bioethics is an independent, non-partisan, non-religious registered Scottish charity composed of doctors, lawyers, psychologists, ethicists and other professionals from disciplines associated with medical ethics. The principles to which the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics subscribe are set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted and proclaimed by the UN General Assembly by resolution 217A (III) on 10 December 1948.