8 
Dr. Nightingale said the public often feels disenfranchised because of very- 
rapid techno logical advances. Furtherrrore, in this area we may be going 
beyond the ability of the medical profession and biomedical researchers 
to monitor themselves. She said public participation in decision making 
is beccming an institutional mechanism for dealing with other canplex 
issues such as environmental hazards and energy concerns. Society has 
gone beyond relying on the judgement of one person, one discipline, and one 
profession; oversight carrrdttees are beccming necessary. 
Dr. Nightingale then discussed the best location for a potential oversight 
ccmnittee. Dr. Nightingale questioned vvhether the oversight body should be 
situated in the government. Is a body located in government subject to 
greater political pressure? If it is outside of government, vould it have 
any impact? She suggested the NIH might not be the best location for an 
oversight ccrrmittee; the NIH funds and advocates scientific research. The 
public might perceive pronouncements coming frcm an NIH advisory body as 
favoring science. Moreover, the NIH doesn't deal with other medical 
issues such as access to health care or the equitable distribution of 
health care funds . 
Dr. Martin thought an oversight group should be as apolitical as possible, 
and, therefore, probably should not report to a Cabinet officer. He pointed 
out that RAC, within the NIH, is better isolated from political pressures. 
Dr. Landy questioned whether political influence on a commission's delibe- 
rations is necessarily negative. Dr. Martin expressed concern that special 
interest groups might have undue and unrepresentative influence on a ccrrrriis- 
sion. He noted that our political system is very sensitive and responsive 
to special interest groups. 
Mr. Daloz felt legislation in this area should not be encouraged. He felt 
the IBCs should be able to provide oversight on most technical matters, 
while RAC should broaden its scope to include ethical and sociological 
considerations, and should acquire more members with sociological and 
industrial backgrounds. 
Dr. McKinney asked why social and ethical issues in recombinant 1NA, as 
opposed to other social and ethical issues, have been singled out for 
consideration. He questioned whether a nw ccmmission or review body is 
required solely to deal with these issues. 
Dr. Fedoroff said that RAC has a certain amount of "enforcement power," in 
that non-ccmpliance with the Guidelines could lead to the loss of Federal 
research funds. She said she would feel uncomfortable with RAC having 
"enforcement pov^er" over decisions physicians made in clinical settings. 
Dr. Scandalios said committees overseeing human experimentation already 
exist. Dr. Charles McCarthy, Director of the NIH Office for Protection 
from Research Risks (OPRR) , said the NIH has been delegated responsibi- 
lity to administer the DHHS renulations for the protection of human subjects. 
Fach institution receiving DHHS finding is required to have an Institutional 
r<ni 
