'Bioethics' is subordinate to morality in Japan
'Bioethics' is subordinate to morality in Japan
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1467-8519.1996.tb00119.x
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发表时间：
1996-07-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
Tanida, N
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Tanida, N
关于脑死亡和安乐死的争论被用来说明在生命伦理学中是否真的存在日本的思维方式。在日本人的思想中，一个人不是作为个人存在，而是作为家庭、社区或社会的一员存在。我把日本社会的这些特征描述为“相互依赖”。在这个社会里，一件事如果是大家共同做的，那就是“好”和“对”的;如果没有人做，那就是“坏”和“错”的。这个社会的一个特点是缺乏公开讨论，导致存在多种标准。这种日本道德甚至凌驾于成文法之上。在日本，有一种公众立场认为安乐死不存在。另一方面，有些决定允许安乐死。同样，器官移植是从脑死亡的捐赠者身上进行的，而这种手术并没有被医学界正式接受。在这种情况下，存在着忽视人权的危险。到目前为止，生物伦理学方法还没有帮助解决这些问题。这可能是因为日本人认为生命伦理学从属于道德。目前关于脑死亡的争论涉及到在日本建立理性社会的斗争。克服相互依赖和排斥是解决这一斗争的关键，也是将日本带入一个所有个人、家庭和社区都受到尊重的相互尊重的社会的关键。
Disputes over brain death and euthanasia are used to illuminate the question whether there really is a Japanese way of thinking in bioethics. In Japanese thought, a person does not exist as an individual but as a member of the family, community or society. I describe these features of Japanese society as 'mutual dependency'. In this society, an act is 'good' and 'right' when it is commonly done, and it is 'bad' and 'wrong' when nobody else does it. Thus, outsiders to this ring of mutual dependency encounter ostracism. One feature of this society is a lack of open discussion which leads to the existence of multiple standards. This Japanese morality even prevails over written laws. In Japan, there is a Public stance that euthanasia does not exist. On the other hand, there are certain decisions which have permitted euthanasia. Similarly, organ transplants were performed from Brain dead donors, while that procedure was not accepted officially by the medical profession. In this situation, there is a danger that human rights will be neglected. So far bioethical approaches have not helped to work out these problems. This may be because Japanese think that Bioethics is subordinate to morality. The current dispute over brain death involves a struggle for the establishment of a rational society in Japan. Overcoming mutual dependency and ostracism is essential to resolve this struggle and to lead Japan into a society of mutual respect where all individuals, families and communities are esteemed.