Bioethics and Human Rights: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

Bioethics and human rights were conceived in the aftermath of the Holocaust, when moral outrage reenergized the outmoded concepts of “medical ethics” and “natural rights,” renaming them “bioethics,” and “human rights” to give them new purpose. Originally, the principles of bioethics were a means for protecting human rights, but through a historical accident, bioethical principles came to be considered as fundamental. In this paper I reflect on the parallel development and accidental divorce of bioethics and human rights to urge their reconciliation.

Human Rights in Bioethics–Theoretical and Applied

“…Force of language: The language of human rights has a great rhetorical, moral and popular force (Baker 2001;Knowles 2001). Violations of human rights are seen as serious incidents that call for immediate action.…”

“…2. Established legal framework: Human rights instruments already exist within the established framework of international law, including treaties, agreements and conventions (Baker 2001;Knowles 2001). That means that an international so-called 'biolaw' could help to solve ethical conflicts on an international and national level (Beyleveld and Brownsword 2001).…”

Bioética Global Y Derechos Humanos: ¿una Posible Fundamentación Universal Para La Bioética? Problemas Y Perspectivas

“…Hay quienes sitúan el nacimiento de la bioética en la segunda postguerra (25), y en cierto sentido tienen razón si consideramos que la bioética siempre se ha presentado a sí misma como una conciencia crítica del progreso científico. Ante las atrocidades de la ciencia nazi, no era posible una actitud de indiferencia y la reacción crítica quedó cristalizada en los procesos de Nuremberg y en el código homónimo, un primer intento por dar un marco jurídico a la investigación mé-dica a escala planetaria (26).…”

Conduct of clinical trials in developing countries

“…The Western world is accustomed to high regard for individualism and privacy, thus, a prospective adult research candidate of normal mentality is expected to make his or her own decisions about treatment and about clinical trial participation, without influence from his or her family or society. Asian societies, however, may expect harmonization of an individual's desires with those of other relevant persons, such as the family [3]. In some strongly paternalistic systems, the physician, who is relied upon to make medical decisions for the patient, must not be made to look uncertain [7,8].…”

“…Their interpretation, especially for research in the developing world, has been controversial at times. Commonly cited universal ethical principles include autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice and fidelity [3–6].…”