Section, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 381, as added Nov. 20, 1985, Pub. L. 99–158, § 11, 99 Stat. 883; amended Nov. 4, 1988, Pub. L. 100–607, title I, § 157(a), 102 Stat. 3059, established the Biomedical Ethics Board and provided for its membership, functions, reports to Congress, etc., and provided for appointment of a Biomedical Ethics Advisory Committee to assist the Biomedical Ethics Board.

A prior section 275, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 381, formerly § 371, as added Aug. 3, 1956, ch. 907, § 1, 70 Stat. 960; renumbered § 381, Mar. 13, 1970, Pub. L. 91–212, § 10(a)(3), 84 Stat. 66, established a National Library of Medicine in the Public Health Service and stated the congressional purposes for such establishment, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–158, § 3(b), Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 879.