Is anyone listening? The perspective of policy makers on public participation in policy making on xenotransplantation in Canada and the United States

The involvement of lay citizens in societal decisions about how to proceed with the development of contentious health related biotechnologies such as cloning, stem cell research, and genetic therapy is a problem that has received much attention as of late. This thesis reports on a series of interviews with Canadian and American policy makers at Health Canada and the US Department of Health and Human Services on the topic of public participation in the policy process for a controversial health biotechnology: xenotransplantation. Specifically, the author inquires about the perspective of the interview participants on the suitability and influence of public involvement in the xenotransplantation policy process. Prior research on public participation in technological design has looked at reflexive learning, evaluation frameworks, and the relative benefits of different methods of public consultation. This study is unique in its look at how public participation shapes the "upstream" policy process with particular reference to the role of policy makers.