Ethical principles and practice guidelines concerning the usage of public database for medical researches

In this paper, ethical principles and practice guidelines concerning the usage of public database for medical researches were developed and proposed. Although there are several personal health databases with comprehensive information of each individual, researches aiming at public good are often hindered because of legal, managerial and technical barriers to the usage of public databases. Ethical principles and guidelines are indispensible to promote medical research that will benefit society while protecting personal information from bleaching and abuse. These principles and guidelines should be a basis of trust and supports from society. For this purpose, the meaning of public good was given, and the current status of the linkage and usage of public databases were explored. As a result, three ethical principles-guaranteeing public good, protecting personal information, and transparency were established and eight recommendations were proposed.

Current status and prospects of exchange of health officials from South and North Korea through non-governmental organizations

South Korea's health care non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played a crucial role in South-North relations, for a formal intergovernmental relationship is difficult to establish and also easily breaks down. Humanitarian assistance by NGOs in the health care sector is an area that receives wide support from South Korean society for its urgency and for its appeal to humanity. This humanitarian assistance started in the late 1990's and continued to grow until the late 2000's. This assistance continued throughout the tension between the two administrations that resulted in a radical decrease in overall assistance from South Korea to North Korea. However, concerns remain about the transparency and efficiency of NGO activities. In this article, the NGOs and their major activities are delineated, and South Korean legislation is examined. A current act, the Law on the Development of South and North Korean Relations serves as a basis for governmental regulation and support of NGO's. Humanitarian assistance in the healthcare area is directly related to the health of the North Korean people, and it should not be influenced by political changes. Long-term planning and close discussions between NGOs, their North Korean counterparts, and the South Korean government are needed. NGOs need to overcome their shortcomings such as a lack of expertise and shortage of financial support. For this, NGOs must improve their administration transparency and professionalism.

The North Korean health and healthcare: issues and strategies

No abstract available.

Conflict of Interest in Medical Practice and Research / 대한소화기학회지

In recent years, medical professionals are in charge with multiple roles. They have to work as an educator, researcher, and administrator, as well as medical practitioner. In addition, they experience a conflict between the primary responsibilities that each role requires of them. A conflict of interest (COI) is a set of circumstances that creates a risk that professional judgment or actions regarding a primary interest will be unduly influenced by a secondary interest. It occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other. The COI should be managed appropriately to preserve the value of public trust, scientific objectivity, and the benefit and safety of patients. Primary interest of medical professionals refers to the principal goals of the medical profession, such as the health and safety of patients, and the integrity of research. Secondary interest includes not only financial gain but also such motives as the desire for professional advancement and the wish to do favors for family and friends, but COI rules usually focus on financial relationships because they are relatively more objective, fungible, and quantifiable. This article will briefly review the COI in medical practice and research, discuss about what is COI, why we should manage it, and how we can manage it.

Biomedical Ethics Policy in Korea: Characteristics and Historical Development

Ethical consideration is an inseparable part of policy-making in modern society. Biomedical ethics is an interdisciplinary study of ethical issues that result from advances in medical practices and research. Because these issues often arise at the bedside, society must provide solutions or judgments that are effective and applicable. Thus, the development and progress of biomedical ethics has been made possible via the cooperation of experts from diverse backgrounds. The biomedical ethics discourse should not be seen as a conflict between values but as a collective activity for problem-solving. To support this perspective on ethics discourse, a historical perspective on biomedical ethics in Korea was given emphasis on the participants and their perspectives. Major cases and the changes resulting therefrom were discussed with the agenda proposed. The Korean situation with respect to ethics development shows the interactions between groups participating in policy development and its collaborative nature.