Sciences, Ethics & Thai Society. 20-03-07Sciences Ethics & Thai Society Whose Ethics? Tax evasion of top politicians = all businessmen did it An engineer

Sciences, Ethics & Thai Society

20-03-07 Sciences Ethics & Thai Society

Whose Ethics?• Tax evasion of top politicians = all

businessmen did it• An engineer arrested for adding levels

to a building leading to collapse and death of 100+

• Drug companies threaten to withhold drug registration in protest of compulsory licensing = it is unfair and breach intellectual property


What !

Ethics?


• Certain professions are governed by “professional laws and ethical code”

• Most laws are there to ensure quality of education, personal conduct and services standard (licensing and investigation of misconducts)

• Most personal conducts being governed are about services provision, not research

Certain professional ethics in Thailand


Certain professional ethics in Thailand

• Doctors – the most extensive professions with ethical oversight in both practices/services and research

• Engineer – ethical conduct to ensure safety of clients and public, not covering research ethics

• Teachers – educational standard • Architects – mostly about keeping with good

quality standard• Scientists – bio safety concerns and some

concerns in research ethics

-200

-307Sciences Ethics & Thai Society

Dr Hwang Woo Suk, South Korean cloning pioneer

(TIME Magazine, December 5, 2005)


Sciences Technology and Ethics

Sciences &Technology

Well being

Human right

Human dignity

Social

Ethics

Law

Knowledge based economy

Quality of life


• ART– Rights and status of parents, women

and children

– Use and disposal of frozen embryos

– Sperm and egg donation

• ELSI and genetic research and testing– Guidelines on genetic research

Some recent Issues of Bioethics in Thailand


Some recent Issues of Bioethics in Thailand

Stem cell research and therapy

- Regulatory requirement in the use of new Regulatory requirement in the use of new technologies for regenerative medicinetechnologies for regenerative medicine- ELSI in research in regenerative medicine- ELSI in research in regenerative medicine- Stem cell bank- public or private goods?- Stem cell bank- public or private goods?


Religions’ viewpoints re Embryo and Origin of Life

• Buddhism – different views

• Islam –120 days after fertilization (international) • Protestant – After embryo embeded in uterus

– Utilization of embryo is prohibited

• Catholic – After fertilization

– All actions which will destroy

embryo are prohibited


Public Perceptions

• Cloning• Not approve/ but someare more acceptable

• Genetic Research • do not aware of its impact, exp: to the insurance policy, job enrollment

• smart (Personal ID) card• Appreciated DNA fingerprint database

(re: tsunami disaster)• Approved some professions access to database

(medical officer, police)


Bioethics and Biomedical Research Project-25472549( )

• BIOTEC is the national focal point in bioethics


Bioethics and Biomedical Research Project-25472549( )

Networking

In

Global

Arena

Network Building in Country

Public Communication

Mass comReligious/Philosopher Legal Women

Technical Groups


StrategiesStrategies

• Networking with strategic partners for knowledge utilization- MTA – working with Vice Deans/President in Research, Faculty of Medicine/Sciences

- Reproductive and Genetic issues: women groups/ gender education


• Public communication via various media

- Cartoon Thai Institute

- Children Museum/ Thailand Knowledge Park (TKPark)

- Private agencies - Bioscope



• Social Sounding : cloning• International Networking

- UNESCO/WHO



Selected Outputs Technical papers

• Guidelines for biomedical research• Genetics Research• Material Transfer Agreement• Stem cell Research

Bioethics in religious point of view


Technical papers

• Public Perception on Identification Smart Card and Genetic Information • Law and Regulation Review on Assisted Reproductive Technology, Genetic Selection and Surrogate Mother• Psychology and Assisted Reproductive Technology: Surrogate Mother• Your Gene Your Choices (Translation)• UNESCO Declarations

Selected Outputs


Public Communication

• Bioethics Short Stories, Articles and Cartoons Contest• Bioethics Animation Contest

• Movie on bioethics : CODE 46

Selected Outputs


Public Communication• Press education on bioethics issues:

• Gene Selection and Alzheimer Diseases Free Baby• IVF to GM Baby: Thai Society Aspect• Stem Cell and Medical Sciences• etc.

• Column in newspaper • Website

www.thainhf.org/Bioethics/

Selected Outputs

http://www.thainhf.org/Bioethics/


Public surveys reports

• cloning

• use of genetic technologies • smart ID card and personal genetic data

Selected Outputs


Ethics in S & T

• Ethics and IT (internet, telemedicine, and security surveillance)

• Environmental ethics

• Ethics in nanotechnology

• Bioethics


Ethics Beyond Scientific Communities

• human rights and human dignity• ethical research conduct (macro

societal concerns)• Equitable research partnerships• TRIPS, IP and public access to new

technologies• business and technologies promotion

– drug advertisement towards general public– marketing towards professionals


Sciences Ethics and Society

• Public concerns – catalysts and media

• Research communities

• National mechanism – research system stewardship

• Legislation and other means to ensure ethical conduct (not just ethical code)

• Business and sciences and technologies development and access

Thank you for Thank you for Your Attention Your Attention

Documents

Sciences, Ethics & Thai Society. 20-03-07Sciences Ethics & Thai Society Whose Ethics? Tax evasion of top politicians = all businessmen did it An engineer