Congenital Minamata Disease

The Ethical Issue of Minamata Disease

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Map of Minamata bay (Ifesiokwu,et. al 2010)
   The Chisso Corporation dumped over 30 tons of mercury in the Minamata bay over a 30 year period. Due to their denial of responsibility, people suffering from high amounts of mercury poisoning and children being born with congenital Minamata disease were wrongly diagnosed. For years the company hired corrupt scientists and doctors to run a disinformation campaign, often blaming the symptoms of the victims on old war weapons from World War II leaking toxins into the bay (Johnston, 1994). 

   It was not until 1973 that Chisso corporation was taken to court and found guilty for negligence, nearly 20 years after the first reports of Minamata disease. In 1979, the executives of Chisso Corporation were found guilty for negligent homicide (Johnston, 1994). 

   Presently, the number of Minamata disease sufferers is unknown. Medical experts estimate that 30,000 people have been affected by the disease. 2,300 people have been certified by the government to have the disease, while more than 10,000 people that have applied have been denied funding for not meeting the strict criteria set by the government, one of the criterion being paralysis affecting all four limbs (Johnston 1994).

   Minamata disease is a catastrophic poisoning due to a failed public health response. The number of sufferers of the disease could have been much smaller if the Chisso Corporation and the Japanese government took responsibility sooner and the public would of been alerted of the toxic levels of mercury they were ingesting. The crisis could of been averted if the corporation and the government did their part and realized the impact they had on the environment and public health. (Babazano, et. al, 2009)

Social Issues

   The Japanese government and the Chisso Corporation are still paying victims to this day. The Chisso Corporation has paid $86 million  to victims and has been ordered to clean the contamination of the bay. The disease has impacted Minamata bay environmentally, economically, and socially. (Ifesiokwu,et. al 2010)

Social Impact: 
  • Financial burden for long term care due to the irreversible effects of Minamata disease
  • Stigmatization and discrimination of patients by the Chisso Corporation
  • Psychological distress of the inhabitants of Minamata Bay 
  • Disease was often thought to be contagious causing fear and distrust among the people of Minamata Bay
      (Futatsako, et al., 2004)

Economic Impact:
  • Fishing industry severely damaged, affecting the population's livelihood
  • Many jobs lost causing an increase in poverty
  • Long time care of individuals affected by the disease
       (Johnston, 1994)

Environmental Impact:
  • Bay and wildlife contaminated with toxic mercury
  • Dredging of the bay to remove mercury
  • In 1970, the "Water Pollution Control Law" was enacted, enforcing the regulation of toxic substances in the waters of Japan (Ifesiokwu,et. al 2010)


Social and Ethical issues section completed by Evangeline Black