Should Social and Ethical Questions Influence the Making of Science Policy?

Ethical issues are often debated in scholarly contexts, but rarely integrated into policy or regulations. There are good reasons for policymakers to focus on safety and efficacy, including concerns that ethical issues often border on highly personal or religious considerations and that consensus would be difficult to achieve. Yet avoidance of these issues can erode democracy and public trust. Are there ways to better integrate these concerns or should they remain outside policy making?