Common ethical issues in regenerative medicine.
One of the common ethical issues in regenerative medicine is progress in 'componentation' (= being treated as parts) of the human body, and the enhancement of the view of such "human body parts." 'Componentation' of the human body represents a preliminary step toward commodification of the human body. The process of commodification of the human body follows the steps of 'materialization' (= being treated as a material object) [first step] -- 'componentation' [second step] -- 'resourcialization' (= being treated as resources) [third step] -- commodification [fourth step]. Transplantation medicine and artificial organ developments have dramatically exposed the potential of organs and tissues as parts, and regenerative medicine has a role in advancing 'componentation' of the human body and further enhancing the view of human body parts. The 'componentation' of the human body, regardless of the degree of regenerative medicine's contribution to it, is considered as a challenge to the traditional view of human bodies and the abstract value of "Human Dignity" in the same way or alongside the 'resourcialization' and commodification. However, in the future, a new perspective of human bodies that means "a perspective whereby human bodies, organs, tissues, and even the bodies themselves are perceived as disposable tools like disposable cameras, syringes, or contact lens" and therefore a new ethical view, suitable for a new reality, may emerge.
Awaya
Tsuyoshi
T
Department of Bioethics, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan.
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics; D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000941:ethics*; D032821:Commodification; D018594:Human Body; D006801:Humans; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000639:trends; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics; D014180:Transplantation / Q000941:ethics