Abstract
Bioethics is a completely new field of study which goes beyond the notions of traditional academic discipline. I propose that bioethics be defined as a supra-interdisciplinary study focusing on value judgements relating to all spheres of "life" issues in the context of social and natural environments. My own view of bioethics has its origin in Saigon, Vietnam, in the 1970's, when I encountered the misuse of scientific and technological achievement for military purposes such as in the case of "Defoliant Operation". In Vietnam today we can still see the result of this military operation. There continues to be births of deformed babies, up to 100,000 according to the survey by the Red-Cross in Vietnam. Could we have envisioned such an outcome 25 years ago? A new vision for future civilization can be established through a forward looking bioethics in public policy. This must be supported by grass-roots civic actions and advocate groups focusing not only on biomedical value issues but on all aspects of "life" issues. Bioethicists need to have a sense of justice including the respect of the human rights of vulnerable people. The New Nuremberg Code of Ethics and The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of Future Generations are two important starting points for moving towards a global consensus for "Future Civilization."
