SEPTEMBER 6-7 - MINUTES OF MEETING 
24 
XIII. REPORT ON THE WORKING GROUP ON RAC PROCEDURES 
Dr. Zaitlin began this presentation with a short description of the issues 
and a s urinary of the conclusions of the Wbrking Group on RAC Procedures 
(716). 
Speaking Time For Members of the Public 
Part I of the Report of the Working Group on RAC Procedures (Drs. Zaitlin, 
Ahmed and Resnick) covered the question of speaking time for members of 
the public. Dr. Zaitlin noted that existing HEW regulations permit the 
chairman significant latitude in dealing with the question of public 
discussion time. Ihe Working Group, however, feels that priority must 
be given to RAC members or to NIH personnel assigned to work with the 
RAC, invited consultants, and non-voting committee members. The Working 
Group felt it important to have contributions from the public but with a 
committee the size of the RAC, and the constraints imposed by the agenda, 
the amount of time has to be circumscribed by the chairperson. Members 
of the public may make formal oral statements, but they are requested to 
submit to ORDA at least two weeks in advance their request for speaking 
time. In addition, the nature of their presentation should be indicated. 
Ihe Federal Register announcing a RAC meeting should indicate the extent 
to which the public will be permitted to participate in the meeting. 
Ths Working Group suggested that if a number of people wish to speak on 
the same issue, the chair has the discretion to choose among them. 
Dr. Zaitlin noted that the RAC will always accept written statements 
from the public. Dr. Setlow then opened the proposal for comments. 
Dr. Ahmed commented that the procedure is reasonable because of the size 
of the RAC; he fully supports this proposal. Dr. Krimsky said that the 
recommendations of the Working Group on procedures was excellent. He 
had only one additional recommendation to offer; if one member of the 
RAC wishes to hear a particular speaker and the chair doesn't, the RAC 
should take a straw vote on allowing the person to speak. Dr. Setlow 
noted that this is a rare occurrence and that when it has occurred, as at 
the May meeting, it was resolved by the chair recognizing the RAC member, 
and the RAC member recognizing the non-RAC member he wished to hear. A 
motion to accept Part I of the Report of the Working Group on RAC Procedures 
passed by a vote of 18 for, none against. (This appears as Part I of 
Attachment III to these minutes). 
Outside Consultants 
Dr. Zaitlin then proceeded to present Part II of the Report which covers 
the question of outside consultants. Dr. Zaitlin noted that this version 
was the third draft of this Part. The Working Group experienced seme 
difficulty with the question of conflict of interest; the most important 
question is whether any person has a predictable financial interest in 
the outcome of the deliberations of the Committee . Ihe Working Group 
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