预防原则:制定转基因技术政策的伦理原则

Precautionary Principle:Ethical Principle of Policy Making for Transgenic Technology

预防原则的基本要求是,如果某项决策(特别是对技术的使用)会给我们的健康和环境带来某种严重的或不可逆的潜在伤害,那么,我们最好不实施该项决策,尽管对于这种潜在伤害的可能性、严重程度或因果联系尚存在着科学上的不确定性;同时,那些主张实施该项决策的人应承担举证的责任。通过梳理预防原则的基本内涵和价值诉求,本文阐述了把预防原则作为制定转基因技术政策的基本伦理原则的主要理由,并指出了在使用这一原则的过程中应注意的一些问题。

The precautionary principle is a guideline for policy making related with environmental protection and public health, which has been widely adopted by many countries and international agencies. The basic ideas of the principle is as follows. First, even if the potentiality, the severity, or the causation of the harms are still scientifically uncertain, a policy, especially in connection with the use of technology, should not be carried out because it might lead to serious or irreversible potential harms to public health and environment. Second, those who propose to carry the policy into execution should be responsible for adducing evidence. After presenting the principle, this paper e precautionary principle as xplores its two value orientations. Finally, several reasons are advanced to justify the basic ethical principle for the use of transgenic technology, and some practical issues in adopting this principle are highlighted as well .