2010, Vol.11, No.1

Journal of the Korea Bioethics Association 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.55

pISSN : 1598-0324
https://journal.kci.go.kr/kba

This study aimed to analyze the public's perception and attitude toward a national biobank. Using a telephone survey, researchers collected data from 708 completed interviews conducted throughout 2009. These interviews revealed 5 major trends regarding the public's opinion of a national biobank. First, awareness of national biobanks were very low with only 13.9% of respondents indicating that they had heard of a biobank. Secondly, the public's attitude toward biobanks was an optimistic one. Another, this survey also suggested that less than 50% of respondents were reluctant to provide their personal genetic information. Additionally, respondents emphasized "public service" and "citizen participation" as the primary principles for making a national biobank. Lastly, citizens were aware of both the risks and benefits associated with the creation of a biobank. Lastly, citizens were aware of both the risks and benefits associated with the creation of a biobank. While many people were wary of the government's ability to maintain their privacy, they also recognized the research benefits of compiling such a wide array of genetic data. Overall, the public's perception of national biobanks was consistent with that of stem cell research and other biotech issues.

This paper aims to suggest comprehensive policies for bioethics dealing with all human-derived biological resources. This is the first study on bioethics of all human-derived biological resources, and its policy. We review on R&D of all kinds of human-derived biological resources such as organs(tissues), cells and genes. And also we review current issues concerning bioethics and laws and regulations at national and international level on them. The issues for bioethics are summarized as right to life, autonomy and justice. In dealing with bioethics, every nation has tendency to adopt its government policies aimed at protecting the health and safety of humans and made guidelines, laws and regulations. But at present, international frameworks and regimes are not sufficient to address all bioethical issues. International harmonization is essential to protect the right of individuals and patients, and provide the necessary ethical guidelines for wider use of human-derived biological resources. Korea also has made its efforts to design appropriate policies for the use and R&D of these resources. Therefore, this paper suggests the following needs: 1) enactment of a general act for all human-derived biological resources, 2) networking of resources at the national level, 3) effective inter-ministerial coordination, 4) ensuring enhanced effectiveness and expertise of each IRB, 5) policies to support education and exchange of information, 6) active understanding of ethics, and 7) government support for research on bioethics or bioethics policy.

In last year, with regard to death with dignity, there were some meaningful deaths- Cardinal Kim Soo-Hwan refusing life-sustaining care through ‘Advance Directives’, former president Kim Dae-Joong wanting life-sustaining care through ‘Advance Directives’ and old woman Mrs. Kim leading approval of death with dignity from Supreme Court for the first time. Their death was meaningful since their death led discussions on death with dignity by coming to death in each other way. However, in discourse on death by the medium of their death, a lot of philosophical and bioethical problems are included. Especially, in the case of Supreme Court which approved death with dignity for the first time, the result may be accepted. However, in the process of arguing approval of death with dignity, there were logical problems difficult to get people’s approval. For, the Supreme Court regarded self-actualization as a ground to approve death with dignity. However, it neglected philosophical/ethical reflection in self-actualization itself. In addition, the viewpoint of public interest and underlying formal utilitarianism exposed only logical weak points of the party supporting death with dignity. Therefore, the study approached the existing death discourse and Supreme Court’s case treating old woman Mrs. Kim, Cardinal Kim Soo-Hwan and former president Kim Dae-Joong in a critical way. Through such works, the study attempted to make a firm theoretical foundation of death discourse including death with dignity and euthanasia. In addition, as a ground to support death with dignity, the study suggested a new viewpoint which was death with dignity as decision of existential human.