Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson 
Page 3 
September 21, 1^76 
Thus a policy which minimized the threat to safety of the public 
might unduly sacrifice other features and values in the research. 
So here, as in all Dublic policies, some compromise is in order, 
though the weight must be on the side of insuring safety. 
7. In my limited competence it seems to me that patents have a 
double function in this case: to protect the rights of institution 
in which the investigation has occurred, and also (intended or 
unintended, I am not sure) to provide some controls over the re- 
search and its dissemination. The second function, if it is a 
function (and I aim prepared to be corrected on this) , is not in- 
trinsic to the intention of patents, vet can be supported in this 
exceptional case. 
8. Within my limited comprehension of the issues, options four 
and five are the two which seem to me to best follow as conclusions 
from the preceding sections of this letter. Option four, it seems 
to me, preserves more of the elements of the general policy to 
which recombinant DMA research is a warranted exception, while pro- 
viding sufficient basis to protect the safetv of the public, that 
which makes recombinant DNA research a special case. Thus I would, 
given my present knowledae and reflection, support option four. 
I shall take a few words to describe my views of the role of someone 
like myself in these matters. Just as the investiaators make 
contributions to oolicv, so do those who approach it from some 
competence in ethics. Just as invest ioators are often frustrated 
because their oolicv recommendations are not accepted without auali 
fication by persons responsible for policy, so someone like myself 
might be frustrated. I believe, however, I would not be, for if 
there is a contribution from mv work it is in lifting out the fea- 
tures to be taken into account, and arguing for an outcome. Mv 
aspiration is not that policy will be based on my recommendations, 
but that, given all the other things you and the staff must take 
into account, my argument will be taken seriously in its parts and 
its whole. 
>r of 
Theological Ethics 
JMGrch 
[ 83 ] 
