미국 생명의료윤리학의 최근 동향*

The author describes institutionalized ethics and the clinical application of biotechnology and ethics as important biomedical issues in the United States. Institutionalized ethics refers that ethics is integrated into practices such as guidelines set by the Institutional Ethics Committee(IEC) and the Institutional Review Board (IRB). These organizations have been in existence since 1970s. Some bioethicists now criticize the roles and activities of IEC and BRB. Activities of EC are evaluated on a regular basis as a part of accreditation process for healthcare. Education plays an important role in strengthening the institutionalization of ethics.

The deciphering of the human genome inspires hopes to prevent and conquer incurable diseases. However, revealing personal genetic information presents ethical problems when biotechnology is applied clinically. The "Nash case" was a typical example of such implication when the pre-implantation genetic diagnosis(PGD) was practiced along with in-vitro fertilization(IVF) in which a baby was created as a healthy umbilical-cord blood donor to its sibling. The "Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. case" has been criticized as potential discrimination of employees by a genetic screening test. Both cases are exemplary in dealing with such questions as how should the biotechnology be applied to enhance human health and happiness without harming personal dignity.