The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (Nice) is today asking 30 people with "old-fashioned common sense" to join its Citizens' Council to advise on social, ethical or moral questions arising from its work on establishing clinical guidelines on "best practice".

Andrew Dillon, chief executive of Nice, said: "We have the best technical experts we can find to give us advice and we make sure that NHS professionals and patients have their say, now we want to add the voices of the public."

But Lib Dem health spokesman Dr Evan Harris says the Citizens' Council will fail to create any real accountability. "While we need lots more public accountability in treatment rationing decisions, this is no such thing. It is a patronizing fig leaf," he said.