Bioethics, politics and policy development

Bioethics is a marginalised participant in Australian policy development While it is involved in some policy arenas it is almost absent or not being heard in others. Bioethics needs to raise its profile and reposition itself to shape the policy development agenda rather than respond to it In order to be a mainstream component at all levels of the health system, bioethics needs to work through education, skilling, active participation and value adding to the political and policy development process. There is also a role for the Australian Bioethics Association in this process.