Ethical Issues Facing Ethical Issues Facing Science and TechnologyScience and Technology

Yongyuth YuthavongYongyuth Yuthavong

Minister ofMinister of Science and Technology, Science and Technology,

ThailandThailand

Asian Bioethics Association/UNESCO Eighth Asian Bioethics Conference (ABC2007)

19-23 March 2007, Century Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.

New Paradigms of New Paradigms of SScience and cience and TechnologyTechnology

From knowledge for knowledge sake From knowledge for knowledge sake with applications assumed to with applications assumed to application-oriented science and application-oriented science and technology.technology.

From “Science, the Endless Frontier” From “Science, the Endless Frontier” to “Society, the Endless Frontier”to “Society, the Endless Frontier”

Science and Technology Science and Technology Change Faster than Light!Change Faster than Light!

Twenty years agoTwenty years agoThe computer was expensive and inefficientThe computer was expensive and inefficientGene engineering was mostly fictionGene engineering was mostly fiction

Ten years agoTen years agoMobile phones and the Web were only startingMobile phones and the Web were only startingThe word “nanotechnology” was almost The word “nanotechnology” was almost

unknownunknown

Science and Science and technology are moving technology are moving faster than faster than understanding of understanding of implications to society.implications to society.

Issues on accessabilityIssues on accessabilityBoth more and lessBoth more and less

““The Digital Divide”: The Digital Divide”: Division between those Division between those with resources for access to digital technology, with resources for access to digital technology, which produces greater resources.which produces greater resources.

BUT “The World is Flat”…BUT “The World is Flat”…Political liberationPolitical liberationInformation technology penetration/open-sourcingInformation technology penetration/open-sourcingOutsourcing/supply-chainingOutsourcing/supply-chainingNetworkingNetworkingThe playing field is levelled.The playing field is levelled.

The “Biotech Divide”The “Biotech Divide”The divide between those who can and The divide between those who can and

cannot access biotechnologiescannot access biotechnologiesAs consumers or producersAs consumers or producersWithin the Thai societyWithin the Thai societyBetween Thailand and developed countriesBetween Thailand and developed countriesBetween Thailand and less developed Between Thailand and less developed

countriescountriesSimilar to the “Digital Divide”Similar to the “Digital Divide”Forerunner of the “Nanotech Divide”?Forerunner of the “Nanotech Divide”?

Safety of New Products:Safety of New Products:Biosafety and NanosafetyBiosafety and Nanosafety

Concerns about safetyConcerns about safetyFor the consumersFor the consumersFor the environmentFor the environment

BiosafetyBiosafetyGMOsGMOsCloning and stem cells applicationCloning and stem cells application

NanosafetyNanosafetyHealth concerns for nanoparticlesHealth concerns for nanoparticles

New products must take safety issues New products must take safety issues into accountinto account

Has science and technology created a GODZILLA?

or many of THEM?

Issues for Ethical, Social and Issues for Ethical, Social and Legal Considerations in Legal Considerations in

BiotechnologyBiotechnology Cloning:Cloning:

Therapeutic tissue/organ cloning (cost and equity> Therapeutic tissue/organ cloning (cost and equity> technical>moral)technical>moral)

Whole organism cloning (moral>technical)Whole organism cloning (moral>technical) Deciding factors: embryonic vs adult stem cells, failure Deciding factors: embryonic vs adult stem cells, failure

rates, risks of complications, eg. cancer, long-term issuesrates, risks of complications, eg. cancer, long-term issues Genomics:Genomics:

Pharmacogenomics (cost and equity)Pharmacogenomics (cost and equity) GMOs (biosafety vs benefits)GMOs (biosafety vs benefits) Deciding factors: consumer benefits vs costs, Deciding factors: consumer benefits vs costs,

understanding of long-term effects of GMOs on the understanding of long-term effects of GMOs on the environmentenvironment

Fukuyama’s ConcernsFukuyama’s Concerns

F. Fukuyama:F. Fukuyama:How far do we let biotech go?How far do we let biotech go?Current Current regulatory bodies are inadequateregulatory bodies are inadequate to de to de

al with future choices, eg.al with future choices, eg.Manipulating Manipulating genes whichgenes which modify behaviourmodify behaviour..Using Using drugs which alter moral characterdrugs which alter moral character..Extending lifeExtending life, impacting on economies, internation, impacting on economies, internation

al relations, and new ideas generation.al relations, and new ideas generation.Creating “Creating “designer babiesdesigner babies”.”.

Issues for Ethical, Social and Legal Issues for Ethical, Social and Legal Considerations in Energy Considerations in Energy

TechnologyTechnologyPollution from oil, gas and coalPollution from oil, gas and coalProduction of greenhouse gas from Production of greenhouse gas from

burning: global warmingburning: global warmingTechnologies for reducing greenhouse Technologies for reducing greenhouse

gas: risks and benefitsgas: risks and benefitsThreats to biodiversity and environment Threats to biodiversity and environment

from renewable technologies (wind from renewable technologies (wind turbines, solar panels, waves)turbines, solar panels, waves)

Nuclear material storage and wasteNuclear material storage and waste

Beloved SunBeloved SunDuang Athit Thee RakDuang Athit Thee Rak

Reading for Form 5 of secondary school Reading for Form 5 of secondary school students:students:

2070, the next full eclipse over Ayudhya, 2070, the next full eclipse over Ayudhya, ThailandThailand

The sun has becomeThe sun has become the main source of powerthe main source of power Solar panels are set above houses, so that Solar panels are set above houses, so that

darkness prevails all day longdarkness prevails all day long Rather than enduring permanent eclipse on the Rather than enduring permanent eclipse on the

ground, the heroine broke the law by climbing upground, the heroine broke the law by climbing up to see the real eclipseto see the real eclipse

Ethical, Social and Legal ImplicatiEthical, Social and Legal Implications:ons: Risk managementRisk management

Types of risksTypes of risksTechnicalTechnical risks (environment, consumers). risks (environment, consumers).Public perception Public perception (political)(political) riskriskss..MarketMarket risk. risk.

Management of risksManagement of risksRisk and benefit analysis.Risk and benefit analysis.Reasonable Precautionary Principle.Reasonable Precautionary Principle.Risk prevention and mitigation.Risk prevention and mitigation.

Ethical, Social and Legal ImplicatiEthical, Social and Legal Implications:ons: Intellectual Property Intellectual Property

ManagementManagementOwnershipOwnership of, and of, and soversovereeigntyignty over, over, gengen

etic resources: natural and developed furthetic resources: natural and developed further by human effortser by human efforts.. Indigenous people (Indigenous people (Farmers’ rightsFarmers’ rights).). Countries (Countries (Biodiversity ConventionBiodiversity Convention).).““Common property of mankind” (Common property of mankind” (freefree us us

e of natural resources, but restricted by e of natural resources, but restricted by patents patents for modifications).for modifications).

Back to Back to GodzillaGodzilla The monster came out from its peaceful territory The monster came out from its peaceful territory

as a consequence of repeated nuclear bomb as a consequence of repeated nuclear bomb experiments. experiments.

A young scientist found a way to destroy A young scientist found a way to destroy GodzillaGodzilla

Unfortunately his invention could also be used Unfortunately his invention could also be used as a weapon of mass destruction.as a weapon of mass destruction.

To solve the dilemma, he decided to burn all his To solve the dilemma, he decided to burn all his documents and end his own life by facing documents and end his own life by facing Godzilla under water. Godzilla under water.

Can our biotechnologist be as brave?

Future Directions:Future Directions: Towards GooTowards Good Governance in d Governance in Science and TScience and T

echnologyechnology More concerns and discussions on ethicsMore concerns and discussions on ethics of science of science

and technologyand technology by by laypeople and scientistslaypeople and scientists alike. alike. Voluntary CodesVoluntary Codes (Guidelines)(Guidelines) of Conduct of Conduct on issues i on issues i

nvolving risks or ethics by nvolving risks or ethics by scientists, scientists, industries, profindustries, professional societies, etc. (cf. 1973 voluntary moratoriuessional societies, etc. (cf. 1973 voluntary moratorium on genetic engineering).m on genetic engineering).

New New lawslaws may be enacted, but a good sense of bala may be enacted, but a good sense of balance is needed.nce is needed.

Role of government:Role of government:Oversees development and capability Oversees development and capability

strengthening in both technical and social, strengthening in both technical and social, ethical issues in science and technology.ethical issues in science and technology.

Set up regulations and laws as necesssary, Set up regulations and laws as necesssary, making sure of having a healthy balance.making sure of having a healthy balance.

Role of civil societies (NGOs)/scientistsRole of civil societies (NGOs)/scientistsHelp to make the public understand issues in Help to make the public understand issues in

various aspects, not just lobby on single issues.various aspects, not just lobby on single issues.

Future Directions:Future Directions: Towards Good GovernanTowards Good Governance in ce in Science and Technology Science and Technology (cont)(cont)

Future Directions:Future Directions: Towards Good GovernanTowards Good Governance in ce in Science and TScience and Technologyechnology (cont)(cont)

Role of education/research institutesRole of education/research institutesAcquire knowledge and understanding Acquire knowledge and understanding

on issues interfacing between on issues interfacing between technology and society.technology and society.

Help to generate healthy debates Help to generate healthy debates among various stakeholders and the among various stakeholders and the public.public.

… economics can be substantially enriched by paying more attention to ethics, and …the study of ethics can also benefit from a closer contact with economics.

Amartaya Sen

Science and technology can be substantially enriched by paying more attention to ethics, and the study of ethics can also benefit from a closer contact with science and technology.

Thank you