Bioethics

― Its Characteristics and Limitations, Seizon and Life Sciences ―

Abstract

Recently, it has been discussed that decision-making regarding the use of the most advanced medical techniques, i.e. gene therapy, organ transplant, needs ethical standards based on "bioethics". The fundamental concepts of bioethics are "self-determination" by the patient based on his autonomy and "persons theory", which means that reasonable persons can only have self-consciousness or a self-concept. However, limitations of bioethics have been indicated because of its characteristic concept. This concept differs from the ideas of the psychoanalysis and Buddhism that "ego" itself, which bioethics relies on, cannot be relied on. In this paper, the foundation and limitations of Informed Consent, Paternalism and Persons which are the fundamental concepts of bioethics, are discussed, concluding that there are possibilities of using bioethics in Japan and developing Seizon and Life Sciences, which is global bioethics. Furthermore, the relationship between occupational health and bioethics, in particular, the ethical and legal issues of occupational physicians are described.