Concept in Definition ABC

It is known by the name of Bioethics to that branch of the Ethics which is concerned with promulgating the principles to be observed by the conduct of an individual in the medical field. Although, bioethics is not only reduced or limited to understanding with regard to the medical field, but also tends to understand, also, in those moral problems that are arise in the passing of daily life, extending then its object of study and attention to other issues such as being the correct and due treatment of animals and to the environment, for example.

Although these are questions about which man has inquired a lot during his history, bioethics is a discipline relatively new and its name is due to the American oncologist Van Rensselaer Potter, who used for the first time in the year 1970 in an article that was published in the magazine of the University of Wisconsin.

Bioethics is supported by four principles: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice.

Autonomy basically involves respect for all people, ensuring the necessary autonomy so that they act for themselves, that is, as owners of their own decisions, even in the case of people sick. Acting autonomously will always imply

responsibility and it is a right inalienable, as I told you, even in illness. In the medical context, then, the medical professional must always respect the values ​​and preferences of the patient because it concerns his or her own health.

The principle of beneficence indicates to the doctor the obligation to always act for the benefit of others, which he immediately assumes if he becomes such. Charity involves promoting the best interest of the patient but without taking her opinion into account, because of course, he does not have the necessary knowledge to solve his state as if he has the doctor.

On the other hand, the principle of maleficence establishes the intentional refraining from carrying out actions that may cause harm or harm to others. It may occur in some circumstances that in the search for that solution for the patient, damage is incurred, in In this case, then, there is no will to harm, the issue will go through avoiding unnecessarily harming others. This will involve the doctor having adequate and updated technical and theoretical training, investigate about treatments, procedures and new therapies, among other issues.

And finally the principle of justice that will imply providing equal treatment to all in order to reduce social, economic, cultural, and ideological inequalities, among others. Although it should not be like that, it is known that sometimes, the health system in some parts of the world privileges the care of some and detracts that of others just because of a social or economic situation, among the most recurrent, then, this is what this principle of Justice.

The main topics in which Bioethics will understand will be organ transplantation, euthanasia, reproduction assisted, abortion, in vitro fertilization, genetic manipulation, ecological, environmental and biosphere problems.

Topics in Bioethics