• 보건행정학회지
• /
• 제14권3호
• /
• pp.97-121
• /
• 2004

Recently, human embryonic stem cell research raises exciting public expectation on medical possibilities as well as ethical debate. Embryo management has become an integral part of the management of infertility treatment, researches on embryo and human embryonic stem cells and so on. Britain has permitted the research on stem cells derived from human embryo which made the first nation to allow the cloning of human embryo for the stem cell research. However, new technologies such as the assisted reproductive technologies and human embryonic stem cell research continue to pose an increasing source of ethical dilemmas for physician, scientists, legislators, religious authorities and the general publics to deal with. None the less, the United Kingdom has adopted the most liberal policies regarding human embryo and human embryonic stem cell research. The implication of the British embryo management system are as follows: 1) the development of reproductive technologies and new stem cell research technologies continue to pose legal and ethical debates, since those involve several parties; 2) the UK has taken the legal and institutional approaches to cope with those serious issues; 3) the UK adopted most liberal policies regarding embryonic and human embryonic stem cell researches; 4) the British HFE Act is consistent with the existing Acts related to human embryo management and researches; 5) through amending the HFE Act to accomodate the changes of technologies, the UK try to minimize the legal and ethical burden on undertaking research regarding embryo. The debates about the researches on human embryo and human embryonic stem cells is likely to continue in the Korean society. Because of the controversy and competing ethical values, as well as the evolving technologies, so far no consensus exists in our society. It suggest that it is premature to bring closure by ruling out any particular approaches. Thus our society needs to make an efforts to find a basis which could resolve the societal controversies through enriching the societal conversation about the profound ethical issues regarding embryo management.

• 한국보건행정학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국보건행정학회 2004년도 전기학술대회
• /
• pp.129-150
• /
• 2004

1978년 7월 25일 영국 맨체스터의 올드햄병원에서 세계 최초로 시험관아기 루이스 브라운이 태어나자 생명을 시험관에서 잉태시킬 수 있는가를 놓고 생명윤리에 관한 논쟁이 촉발되었다. 이러한 논쟁은 몇몇 선진국에서는 보조생식술의 이용에 따른 윤리적·사회적· 법적 문제를 논의하기 위한 국가적 차원에서의 조사위원회가 만들어지고 이를 규제하기 위한 법률을 준비하는 계기로 작용하였다. 그러나 현재의 시점에서 볼때 그러한 보조생식기술이 인류에게 큰 불행을 가져온 것으로 생각하는 사람은 많지 않은 듯하다. 세계적으로 십여만명의 아이가 이러한 불임극복 방법을 통하여 태어났으며, 현재 IVF(in Vitro Fertilisation)시술은 불임의 치료방법의 하나로 자리 잡고 있는 것이다. (중략)