Bioethics in Japan: a History

The Center for Global Partnership of the Japan Foundation publishes Dr. Yoshio Nukaga's account of the history of bioethics in Japan.

The Shame of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis in Japan

This story is the latest on the humiliation heaped on Tetsuo Otani by the Japan Society of Ob/Gyn, and on his continuing fight to offer pre-implantation genetic testing for prevention of miscarriage. What makes the story interesting to me isn't the question of whether or not PGD should be offered only for prevention of serious hereditary disease, as the Society specifies. I think it is incredible that the role of the medical societies is still taken so seriously by the government in Japan; can you imagine what would happen if ASRM were suddenly to attempt to elicit government help to shut down an IVF clinic for offering big money to ivy league egg donors?