In spring of 2003, the 12 members of the Consensus Conference on Genetic Data met to discuss policy issues related to genetic data.
Problems and Purpose
An Austrian citizens’ consensus conference (using the Danish model) took place in 2003 to deliberate and advise on what the guidelines could be in how genetic data could be collected, analysed, and used. 12 citizens were gathered in order to discuss genetic counselling and research, genetic screening, data protection and ethical aspects. They produced a report that was handed over to the above-mentioned body of experts. [1]
Background History and Context
Know what events led up to this initiative? Help us complete this section!
Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities
The conference was created by the “Austrian Council—Rat f ̈ur Forschung und Techno-logieentwicklung," an advisory body of experts created in 2000 by the Austrian government, and composed of eight personalities from universities and the industry. [1]
Participant Recruitment and Selection
Invitations were sent to a random selection of 4000 people, 105 of whom submitted letters of application. From these, 12 people were finally selected according to demographic criteria but no more details are provided about the criteria used. [1]
Methods and Tools Used
What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation
Know how people participated or what public interaction looked like? Help us complete this section!
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
A report on the recommendations among the participants was drafted on the Sunday of the deliberative event. It was presented to the press on the Monday, and handed over to the advisory council of experts. The advisory council then sent the report to the chair of national parliament, who distributed it to all MPs. There has been no actual debate in parliament. There was also very little media attention.[1]
Analysis and Lessons Learned
Want to contribute an analysis of this initiative? Help us complete this section!
See Also
References
[1] Paulis, Emilien; Pilet, Jean-Benoit; Panel, Sophie; Vittori, Davide; Close, Caroline, 2020, "POLITICIZE Dataset", https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/Z7X6GT, Harvard Dataverse, V1
External Links
Notes
Data was sourced from OECD (2020), Innovative Citizen Participation and New Democratic Institutions: Catching the Deliberative Wave, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/339306da-en.