Objetivou-se nesta pesquisa estudar a aplicação da bioética à fonoaudiologia. A metodologia consistiu na aplicação de um questionário a 41 fonoaudiólogos de Belém, visando investigar as questões éticas que envolvem sua rotina, seus conhecimentos sobre bioética e a sua influência em seu exercício profissional. Os resultados mostram que 75% dos entrevistados já realizaram e/ou esclareceram um diagnóstico difícil; 52% já realizaram tratamento de pacientes em estado crítico ou com péssimo prognóstico; 80% já se depararam com um procedimento inadequado de um colega ou de outro profissional da saúde; 71% já tiveram um paciente que se aborreceu e/ou não colaborou durante um atendimento; 36% tiveram pacientes que pediram alteração no resultado de um procedimento; 48% referiram que passaram por problemas de relacionamento profissional; 29% tiveram impasse na realização de pesquisa; os entrevistados demonstraram que acreditam no auxilio que a bioética representa no trato das questões abordadas neste estudo. Conclui-se que várias questões éticas envolvem a rotina dos fonoaudiólogos, que estes profissionais possuem conhecimentos sobre a bioética e reconhecem o auxílio que esta ciência pode significar em seu desempenho. Por isso, muitas pesquisas precisam ser feitas para detalhar a aplicação da bioética à atuação específica do fonoaudiólogo.(AU)
The objective of this investigation was to study the application of bioethics to speech, language and hearing sciences. The methodology consisted of applying a questionnaire to 41 speech, language and hearing therapists in Belém, with the aim of ascertaining the ethical issues involved in their routine, their knowledge of bioethics and its influence on their professional practice. The results showed that 75% of the interviewees had already made and/or clarified a difficult diagnosis; 52% had already carried out treatment on patients in a critical state or with a poor prognosis; 80% had already been presented with an inappropriate procedure performed by a colleague or another healthcare professional; 71% had already had a patientwho was tiresome and/or uncooperative during the attendance; 36% had had patientswho asked for the result from a procedure to be changed; 48% said that they had gone through professional relationship problems; and 29% had reached an impasse in conducting investigations. The interviewees showed that they believed in the aid that bioethics would represent in dealing with the issues raised in this study. It was concluded that several ethical issues are involved in speech, language and hearing therapists routine, and that these professionals had knowledge about bioethics and recognized the aid that this science might signify in their practice. For this reason, many further studies need to be conducted in order to detail the application of bioethics to the specific activities of speech, language and hearing therapists.(AU)