Common ethical issues in regenerative medicine

Journal International de Bioethique

Volumn 16, Issue 1-2, 2005, Pages

  Awaya, Tsuyoshi ^a  

^a OKAYAMA UNIVERSITY   (Japan)

Author keywords

Cell therapy; Cloning; Commercial use of the human body; Dehumanization; Embryonic stem cells; Enhancement; Regenerative medicine

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; CELL DIFFERENTIATION; EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT; EMBRYONIC STEM CELL; HUMAN; LEGAL ASPECT; MEDICAL ETHICS; MEDICAL PRACTICE; MOLECULAR CLONING; ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION;

HEALTH CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH;

BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH; BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY; COMMODIFICATION; HUMAN BODY; HUMANS; REGENERATIVE MEDICINE; TISSUE AND ORGAN PROCUREMENT; TRANSPLANTATION;

EID: 29544448594     PISSN: 11450762     EISSN: None     Source Type: Book Series    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (19)

1. Yukiyoshi Tsukata, "Regenerative Medicine and Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues," Regenerative Medicine (Japanese), 2(1), pp. 86-91, 2003;
2. Shoubei Yonemoto, "Regenerative Medicine and Ethical Issues," In Regenerative Medicine: Its Possibilities, Fumimaro Takaku (ed.), Jiho (Japan), pp. 149-161, 2003, etc. Other papers which do not include "Regenerative Medicine" in their title, but in their scope: Kazumasa Hoshino, "Ethics Regarding ES Stem Cells," in Regenerative Medicine: Its Possibilities, Fumimaro Takaku (ed.), Jiho (Japan), pp. 137-147, 2003;
3. Other papers which do not include "Regenerative Medicine" in their title, but in their scope: Kazumasa Hoshino, "Ethics Regarding ES Stem Cells," in Regenerative Medicine: Its Possibilities, Fumimaro Takaku (ed.), Jiho (Japan), pp. 137-147, 2003;
4. Kazuto Kato, "Ethical and Social Issues of Human Stem Cell Study," Experimental Medicine (Japanese), 21(8), pp. 1154-1159, 2003;
5. Akitada Nakamura, "Regulations and Trends in Guidelines Regarding Use of Tissues and Cells for Medicine," Protein, Nucleic Acid and Enzyme (Japanese), 45(13), pp. 2348-2356, 2000.
6. The introduction of the book 'Yasuhiko Tabata (ed.), Actual Regenerative Medicine Came This Far, Yodosha (Japan), 2003' starts with "Treatments which have already started, or clinical applications in the near future have nothing to do with ES stem cells."
7. (Tabata) And Prof. Minoru Ueda mentioned that regenerative medicine without using fertilized eggs was the current trend in his article, "Corporatization of Regenerative Medicine," Associe (Japanese), 9, pp. 142-155(143), 2002.
8. The human body and therefore human remodeling can be considered a collective focal point of cutting edge technologies such as genetic, robotic and computer technologies including those of advanced medicine. However, there is also the issue regarding to what degree such remodeling is acceptable both ethically and socially. Regarding this point, see Tsuyoshi Awaya, "Cutting Edge Technologies of Medicine and Bioethics: Human Remodeling using Technologies, and Its Ethical and Social Limits," Education and Medicine (Japanese), 50(11), pp. 35-41, 2002. As for regenerative medicine, especially brain regenerative medicine, issues will arise when regenerative medicine crosses the border between 'treatment' and 'enhancement.'
9. For further information, see Tsuyoshi Awaya, "Human Body Parts Industry: Visit to CryoLife," Journal of Healthcare, Medicine and Community (Japanese), 16, pp. 79-84, 1999,
10. or Tsuyoshi Awaya, Human Body Parts Business, Kodansha (Japan), pp. 13-26, 1999.
11. See Tsuyoshi Awaya, Introduction to Study of Modern Property Right of the Human Body, Tokuyama University Economic Research Center Monograph II (Japan), pp. 1-42, 2001;
12. Tsuyoshi Awaya, "Resourcialization and Commodification of the Human Body and Modern Property Rights of the Human Body," Associe, 9, pp. 101-112, 2002.
13. Treating human bodies courteously secures human dignity (= Treating human bodies courteously is a breakwater for human dignity). Regarding this point, see Tsuyoshi Awaya, "Issues on Organ Trade," in Future of Life: Bioethics, Shunko Tashiro (ed.), Hozokan (Japan), pp. 69-156(144), 1996.
14. See Tsuyoshi Awaya, op. cit.,
15. Tsuyoshi Awaya, "Trial Theory on Neo Cannibalism," Square of Thought (Japanese), 3, pp. 29-47, 1994.
16. A cyborg can be defined as "a human who has a computer controlled artificial object or objects inside the body, or attached to the surface of the body in a virtually permanent state." (Awaya) There are three directions for the human body and therefore human remodeling using technologies, of which cyborgization is one. The other two are gene enhancement and chimerization (or hybridization). For further information, see Tsuyoshi Awaya, op. cit.,
17. Modern civilization is a system by which human desires are stimulated, fulfilled and subsequently extinguished, and these are repeated (= match-pump system). (Tsuyoshi Awaya, "Organ Transplants and Modern Civilization," in Manipulating Life and Death: From Birth to The End, Kenichiro Yamaguchi (ed.), Shogakukan (Japan), pp. 153-172(154), 1998.) In addition, the term 'desire,' as mentioned above, has no positive or negative nuances, and it is a neutral term used to describe the facts.
18. Human Body Parts Business, Kodansha (Japan), pp. 13-26, 1999. The 20th century was an era when human desires significantly expanded; supported by technologies and the market economy. This significant expansion of desire is called "Explosion of Desires." Resourcialization and Commodification of the Human Body are the symbols of this phenomenon. (Tsuyoshi Awaya, Human Body Parts Business [supra note (4)], p. 209.)
19. Modern humans are semi-inevitably dependent on technologies, because they represent the usual measures and tools used to satisfy desires. See Tsuyoshi Awaya, Century of Human Remodeling: Big Bang of Desires, Square of Thought (Japanese), 13, pp. 77-89(85), 2001.