|
KMID : 1172020060070010071
|
|
Journal of Korean Bioethics Association
2006 Volume.7 No. 1 p.71 ~ p.87
|
|
|
The improvement plan for organization and management of National Bioethics Committee
|
|
Lee In-Young
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
The rapid developments in science and technology, which increasingly affect our understanding of life and life itself, resulted in a strong demand for a global response to the ethical implications of such developments. Ethical issues raised by the rapid advances in science and their technological applications should be examined with due respect to the dignity of the human person and universal respect for human rights. In order to support for research, national or regional governments shall arrange all necessary measures to deal effectively with problems concerning bioethics that may arise during the process of developing and utilizing biotechnology. According to Bioethics and Bio-safety Act (2005) in Korea, there shall exist a National Bioethics Committee, responsible to the President, whose function it is to review the issues concerning bioethics and biosafety in the life sciences and biotechnology. The Committee will be composed of between 16 and 21 persons, including one Chairperson and one Vice-Chairperson. Membership in the Committee shall be as
follows. The following ministers will all be members of the Committee: the Minister of Education and Human Resources Development, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Science and Technology, the Minister of Commerce, the Minister of Industry and Energy, the Minister of Health and Welfare, the Minister of Gender Equality, and the Minister of Government Legislation. The president will appoint not more than seven representatives of the academic, scientific, and industrial spheres, each of whom have professional knowledge and experience in the fields of life science or medical science. The president will appoint not more than seven representatives of the fields of religion, philosophy, ethics, social science, law,
NGO groups, or gender equality. There is no question that bio-technological developments have been, and can be, of great benefit to humankind in increasing life expectancy and improving the quality of life. But we should emphasize that
such developments should always seek in the recognition of the dignity of the human person and universal respect for human rights. Last year some serious accidents in relation to bioethics and research ethics occurred in Korea. We should recognize the need for such research and developments to occur within the framework of bioethical principles. To promote equitable access to bio-technological developments, we should foster multidisciplinary and pluralistic dialogue about issues within society. First of all, independent and multidisciplinary ethics committees should be established and promoted at the appropriate level in order to assess the relevant ethical, legal, scientific and social issues related to research projects involving human beings. In the same way, ethics committees should provide advice and appropriate assessment on ethical problems. We should promote professionalism, honesty and integrity and transparency in ethical decision-making on all conflicts of interest and appropriate sharing of knowledge. The ethical committees should functionally fulfill its tasks and carry out their work in accordance with the principles of bioethics and biosafety.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
National Bioethics Committee, Bioethics, Bioethics Law
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|
|