I think philosophers agree that ethics is the study of what is right and wrong - they just can't agree on what those things are ;)

As for governments taking ethical considerations into mind, my reflex is to say no unless it benefits them in terms of public perception. I think I see an example in the current debate over stem cell research and GM food. In the US, where abortion is a hotly divisive topic, there is reluctance by government to allow stem cell research. When it comes to genetically modififed organisms/foods, there is almost no resistance by government and behold, almost no strong, unified opposition to GM foods from the populace. What is right and wrong for politicians is a mirror of what people think is right and wrong, because that spells out what the politicians will get away with. That's the extent to which I think they'll take ethics into consideration.