p. 396 in
Bioethics in Asia
Editors: Norio Fujiki and Darryl R. J. Macer, Ph.D.
Eubios Ethics Institute
Copyright 2000, Eubios Ethics Institute
All commercial rights reserved. This publication may be reproduced for limited educational or academic use, however please enquire with the author.
F13. The Ethical Guidelines of the gPosition Paperh of the Society of Human Genetics in Germany
Prof. Hiedemarie Neizel.
Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
In Germany, the Human Genome Project has greatly increased the publicfs fear about eugenics and about altering human nature. The bioethical debate in Germany has to be seen in the context of the trauma inflicted by National Socialism. On the basis of grace hygieneh, involuntary sterilization was the first step, to be followed by involuntary euthanasia of handicapped persons. The gknow howh acquired during these activities was used in the gFinal Solutionh resulting in the systematic killing of more than 6million people. Remembering the holocaust, many German oppose the new technical developments in genetics.
Major lessons form the Nazi era are the fundamental ethical basis of medicine, and the importance of an informed, concerned, and engaged public and profession. In order to allay the publicfs fear about genetics and to provide guidelines for professional conduct, the first so-called define the current ethical standpoint regarding genetic testing, human autonomy, confidentiality, non-directive counseling, freedom of choice, and the right to know or not know.
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