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In Japan, genetic analysis, using blood cells, is expected to help in diagnosing and treating disease in individuals. Many are concerned, however, that the genetic information might be released without the patient's agreement, causing discrimination in marriage and employment.
While the government has made guidelines to keep privacy secure and requested an ethical screening committee at each research center, earlier this year, a hospital in Osaka took genetic samples from about 1000 patients without their agreement, and later examined the genetic makeup confidentially. The Japanese government is now drafting a plan to encrypt such genetic information and keep it guarded under high security.
More than half of the life insurance companies in Japan have mentioned the possibility of examining genetic information in the future. Genetic information is something that individuals cannot change, so this new life insurance standard is being criticized by many as a sort of grading system of human beings. They argue that all individuals should be treated equally.
Presently, there are no clear rules on such issues as privacy, genetic information and patents. The situation is very similar to the ethics concerns over Information and Communication Technology and globalization.
Others are also concerned about the role of researchers who work in business. Some are critical of the present researchers working on the human genome, since it is exclusively the scientists who are being permitted to make the decisions regarding human genetic information and study without regard for human dignity, then using their work to act as a god effecting "their own" creations. Another problem we have in Japan is that we do not have any guidelines about the usage of an individual's genome information and the business implications of such usage, such as life insurance screening.
Genetic technology might be beneficial for mankind but in order to enjoy the real benefits, we need to also consider the other related social and cultural problems involved. 
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