The steady stream of ethical issues which have come to prominence over this last year is likely to intensify rather than abate in 2004. Peter Saunders' editorial (p1) highlights some of the major legislation on the near horizon. The legal and political consensus on euthanasia that has survived in the UK since the House of Lords Select Committee report in 1994 is now being seriously challenged. And in addition there is real pressure to liberalise abortion further, through removing the need for two doctors to sign, introducing 'nurse abortions' and extending the Abortion Act to Northern Ireland.

As a Fellowship it is clear that we have a special role to play in the public debate and the Study Group has been keen to make submissions to relevant government bodies and try to mobilise CMF members with clinical expertise in relevant areas to write to politicians, speak on the media and make their voices heard.

Our CMF Files series has continued to develop, and in 2003 we filled in some major gaps producing files on Homosexuality, Sex Selection, Euthanasia and Abortion. These should prove invaluable over the next year as these issues are debated in parliament, society, the church and the profession. Chinese and Russian translations of all the files are now well underway and the increasingly popular Ethics for Schools website and CD Rom have received a maximum rating from the Religious Education Advisers.