Status quo of Bioethics in China
Chinese Scholars on Ethical Lessons from Anti-Human and
Anti-Humane Experimentation by Japanese 731 Troops
A Panel Discussion on Ethical Lessons from Anti-Human and Anti-Humane Experimentation by Japanese 731 Troops was held at the Beijing International Conference on Bioethics on January 5, 2004. In this discussion Professor Shen Mingxian from Shanghai and Professor Du Zhizhneg from Dalian made following remarks on this topic:
Shen maintained that the anti-human and anti-human experimentation conducted by Japanese scientists and physicians and American cover-up is a typical case in which the anti-humane activities or crimes were covered up with the name of science. He asked: When there is a conflict between humanity and science, can science override everything? He pointed out that science in general should have promoted the welfare of human beings, life science and medicine in particular should have improved the human health and their quality of life, so they are a humanistic endeavor full with humanistic concerns, and are called the Art of Humaneness/Humanness. He argued that these Japanese and US scientists/physicians are the victims of technology infatuated syndrome which led their mind to be unfeeling to, and exclude humanity. The second question Shen raised is when there is a conflict between humanity and politics, can politics override humanity? He concluded that basic ethical values and norms must be respected. Respect for persons, treat person as the end itself, this is well received categorical imperative in the world, and also a paramount ethical principle.
Du Zhizhneg held that there are four lessons that could be drawn from the anti-human and anti-humane experimentation conducted by Japanese 731 Troops.
1. Adhering informed consent is the most fundamental requirement which must be complied with in research involving human beings.
2. It is common mission for the peoples all over world to adhere informed consent and respect human dignity. Any national selfishness is harmful.
3. The spirit of Nuremberg Code is universal and absolute, any double standard will lead to no end of trouble in the future.
4. Research involving human beings must serve the medical purpose, physicians should properly treat all non-medical research involving human beings with their own conscience.
Du concluded that today the human experimentation with a purpose of direct killing such as that conducted by 731 Troops would no longer take place, however, it does not meant that there will be no other human experimentation against human interests, such as those human experimentation with some political purpose or need. Furthermore, under the pressure of commercialization is it the case that human experimentation which is subordinated to commercial interest is taking place somewhere today?
