[Latin American science museums and equity]. / Los museos latinoamericanos de cienca y la equidad.

Latin America and the Caribbean form a region of great variations yet marked by cultural resemblances. The origins of the region's countries, of their wealth, and also of their problems are quite similar. Indeed, there are clear points of contact in the most basic aspects, such as each society's worldview. Throughout the region there is a very strong democratizing trend that seeks more just and more educated societies. Science plays a key role in the development as a powerful weapon for tolerance and equity and therefore should be disseminated among the greatest possible number of Latin Americans. Red POP the network for the Popularization of Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean - was created to help reach this goal. Under the auspices of ORCYT-UNESCO, Red POP is an interactive network of centers and programs that work to bring science and technology to the public at large. It fosters exchange, skill-acquisition, and resource use among its members. Based on the network's experience, we explore to what extent science museums favor equity in their home societies.

Ethics and dentistry: I. The meaning of ethics.

This short series of two papers will examine the relationship between ethics and dentistry. The first paper explores the meaning of ethics; the second will provide a catalogue of primary sources for dental practitioners who wish to read further in order to gain a core of knowledge about dental ethics.

[The social sciences' other health-care discourse]. / El otro discurso de las ciencias sociales en salud.

Since the late 1960s and early 1970s, concern over inadequate social conditions - which is what has truly hampered human development - has been focused on growth together with equity. If human development is a process which should steadily broaden human options, what place does this concept play in the discourse of the social sciences and politics as 'master' - whose major product today is greater poverty, overpopulation, and less options for people? How can this situation be reverted, so that people can enjoy a long, healthy life, receive an education, and have access to the resources that are needed if their life chances are to be greater than their death chances? What role does or should the social sciences play in devising an ethical discourse on health care? To what objectives will we need to return, if we are to refrain from using scientific knowledge to validate the unjust social inequalities espoused in the discourses of power and of the master?

[Transgenics without Manichaeism]. / Transgênicos sem maniqueísmo.

We live in an era characterized by the hegemony of science and technology, an era fraught with questions awaiting answers which would enable a safe and sustainable future for humankind. The development of agro-industrial processes - food products in particular - through recombinant DNA technology has enhanced the profit prospects of the few big biotechnology companies and of large-scale farmers who have access to the latest technological developments. We thus oppose a moratorium on recombinant DNA technology. Moreover, hasty statements about risk-free transgenics may be misleading in the absence of extensive safety tests. There is a pressing need for the establishment of biosafety policy in this country involving the organized civil society and every government agency responsible for monitoring such matters. There is also the need to put in place a bio-surveillance and a code of ethics regarding genetic manipulation.

El pensamiento ético de José Martí en la formación del médico cubano / The ethical thought of José Marti in the training of the Cuban physician

RESUMEN El pensamiento ético de José Martí juega un papel fundamental en la formación integral de las nuevas generaciones de profesionales de la salud. Este trabajo analiza varias ideas martianas acerca del humanismo, la solidaridad y la moral, a la luz de las actuales necesidades de la formación de estos profesionales en Cuba. La aplicación creadora de su pensamiento humanista en las nuevas circunstancias históricas demanda un mayor esfuerzo por parte de los educadores (AU).

ABSTRACT The ethical thought of José Marti plays an important role in the professional training of the new generations of health professionals. This work analyses several Jose Marti's ideas on humanism, solidarity and moral values, in the light of the current necessities of these professionals´ training in Cuba. The creative application of his humanist thought in the new historical circumstances demands a greater effort of the educators (AU).

El pensamiento ético de José Martí en la formación del médico cubano / The ethical thought of José Marti in the training of the Cuban physician

RESUMEN El pensamiento ético de José Martí juega un papel fundamental en la formación integral de las nuevas generaciones de profesionales de la salud. Este trabajo analiza varias ideas martianas acerca del humanismo, la solidaridad y la moral, a la luz de las actuales necesidades de la formación de estos profesionales en Cuba. La aplicación creadora de su pensamiento humanista en las nuevas circunstancias históricas demanda un mayor esfuerzo por parte de los educadores (AU).

ABSTRACT The ethical thought of José Marti plays an important role in the professional training of the new generations of health professionals. This work analyses several Jose Marti's ideas on humanism, solidarity and moral values, in the light of the current necessities of these professionals´ training in Cuba. The creative application of his humanist thought in the new historical circumstances demands a greater effort of the educators (AU).

Ortotanásia e distanásia: percepção dos profissionais de saúde de uma unidade de terapia intensiva / Ortotanasia y distanasia: percepción de los profesionales de salud de una unidad de cuidados intensivos / Orthothanasia and dysthanasia: perception of health professionals of an intensive care unit

RESUMO Pesquisa que envolve o processo de morte, abordando a distanásia, a qual se constitui na obstinação terapêutica a fim de adiar a morte, e a Ortotanásia, que se constitui na morte em seu processo natural, sem prolongar o tratamento. Teve como objetivo reconhecer a percepção dos profissionais da equipe de saúde que atuam em unidade de terapia intensiva, acerca das situações de Ortotanásia e Distanásia. Realizado em um hospital universitário. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas com 25 profissionais de saúde e submetidos à análise de conteúdo temática. Emergiram três categorias relacionadas: Apreendendo a Ortotanásia e a Distanásia; Percebendo o contexto da tomada de decisão; Ponderando a Ortotanásia e a Distanásia na finitude da vida. A percepção dos profissionais de saúde referente à Ortotanásia e à Distanásia exige discussões referentes aos conceitos éticos que envolvem as intervenções no processo de morte, possibilitando um embasamento da equipe multiprofissional, familiares e pacientes na tomada de decisão no final da vida.

RESUMEN Investigación que implica el proceso de muerte, tratando la distanasia, que constituye en la obstinación terapéutica a fin de aplazar la muerte, y la Ortotanasia, que constituye en la muerte en su proceso natural, sin prolongar el tratamiento. Tuvo como objetivo reconocer la percepción de los profesionales del equipo de salud que actúan en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, acerca de las situaciones de Ortotanasia y Distanasia. Realizado en un hospital universitario. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas con 25 profesionales de salud y sometidos al análisis de contenido temático. Surgieron tres categorías relacionadas: Comprendiendo la Ortotanasia y la Distanasia; Percibiendo el contexto de la toma de decisión; Ponderando la Ortotanasia y la Distanasia en la finitud de la vida. La percepción de los profesionales de salud referente a la Ortotanasia y a la Distanasia exige discusiones sobre los conceptos éticos que comprenden las intervenciones en el proceso de muerte, posibilitando una base del equipo multiprofesional, familiares y pacientes en la toma de decisión en el final de la vida.

ABSTRACT Research involving the process of death regarding dysthanasia, which is defined as therapeutic obstinacy practiced with the aim to postpone death, and Orthothanasia, which is death in its natural process, without further treatment. The study aimed to recognize the perception that professionals of the health team working in an intensive care unit have about situations of Orthothanasia and Dysthanasia. The study was conducted in a university hospital. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 health professionals and submitted to thematic content analysis. Three related categories emerged: Seizing Orthothanasia and Dysthanasia; Realizing the decision-making context; Pondering Orthothanasia and Dysthanasia in the finitude of life. The perception of health professionals regarding Orthothanasia and Dysthanasia requires discussions that consider the ethical concepts involved in interventions adopted in the process of death in order to provide basis to the multidisciplinary team, family and patients in decision making at the end of life.

Authentic leadership, group cohesion and group identification in security and emergency teams / Liderazgo auténtico, cohesión e identifi cación grupal en equipos de seguridad y emergencia

BACKGROUND: Authentic leadership (AL) is a kind of leadership that inspires and promotes positive psychological capacities, underlining the moral and ethical component of behavior. The proposed investigation studies the relations among AL, cohesion, and group identification in security and emergency teams. METHOD: A cross-sectional research design was conducted in which participated 221 members from 26 fire departments and operative teams from the local police of three Spanish provinces. The following questionnaires were administered: Authentic Leadership (ALQ), Group Cohesion (GEQ), and Mael and Ashford's Group Identification Questionnaire. RESULTS: A direct and positive relation was found between AL, cohesion, and group identification. An indirect relation was also found between AL and group cohesion through group identification, indicating the existence of partial mediation. CONCLUSIONS: The utility of the proposed model based on AL is considered; this model can be employed by those in charge of the fire departments and operative groups in organizations to improve workteams' cohesion. Both AL and group identification help to explain group cohesion in organizations committed to security and emergencies

ANTECEDENTES: el liderazgo auténtico (LA) es un tipo de liderazgo que inspira y promueve capacidades psicológicas positivas, destacando el componente moral y ético de las conductas. La investigación planteada estudia las relaciones entre LA, cohesión e identificación grupal en equipos de seguridad y emergencia. MÉTODO: se desarrolla un diseño de investigación transversal en el que participan 221 componentes de 26 brigadas de bomberos y equipos operativos de policía local de tres provincias españolas. Se administraron los cuestionarios ALQ de liderazgo auténtico, GEQ de cohesión grupal y el cuestionario de Mael y Ashford que mide identificación grupal. RESULTADOS: se encontró una relación directa positiva entre el LA, la cohesión y la identificación grupal. Asimismo, se encontró también una relación indirecta entre el LA y la cohesión grupal a través de la identificación grupal apuntando los datos a la existencia de una mediación parcial. CONCLUSIONES: se considera de utilidad el modelo propuesto basado en el LA, pudiendo ser empleado por los responsables de las brigadas y grupos operativos en organizaciones para mejorar la cohesión de los equipos de trabajo. Tanto el LA como la identificación grupal ayudan a explicar la cohesión grupal en organizaciones con cometidos relacionados con la seguridad y las emergencias

Ética biomédica y prudencia / Biomedical. Ethics and practical wisdom

Como es sabido, en el ámbito de la ética biomédica, se han formulado diversas propuestas metodológicas que tratan de ofrecer una serie de pautas para la toma de decisiones. Estas metodologías son útiles, en la medida en que aportan criterios, pero son esencialmente insuficientes. En efecto, tomar una buena decisión requiere un tino especial, que va más allá de la mera técnica, y que tradicionalmente se ha denominado prudencia. No en el sentido más común y periférico de precaución, sino en el sentido más central de phrónesis o prudentia. Aunque no es una noción nueva, sí se trata de una noción que suele aparecer desdibujada, ocupando un lugar equivocado, marginal o indefinido en la teoría de la toma de decisiones biomédicas. A partir de esta constatación se pretende dos cosas. En primer lugar, señalar la necesidad de comprender el papel troncal que tiene la prudencia en el ámbito de la toma de decisiones, para lo que se partirá de algunas de las metodologías más influyentes en nuestro entorno. Y, en segundo lugar, recuperar los colores originales de la noción aristotélica de prudencia. Por razones de espacio, en el presente trabajo la segunda cuestión es sólo parcialmente abordada

As is well known, in the field of Biomedical Ethics some methodological proposals have been put forward. They try to provide some guidelines in order to take proper decisions. These methodologies are quite useful insofar as they supply reasons for action, but they are essentially insufficient. In fact, taking a good decision requires a special skill that goes beyond sheer technique, and this skill is traditionally called practical wisdom. Not in the usual and more outlying sense of sheer caution, but in the more central one of phronesis or prudentia. Although it is not a new notion, it usually appears blurred in biomedical decisionmaking theory, playing the wrong role, or in a marginal or indefinite way. From this postulate, we will try to make a double analysis. First, we will try to show the need for a proper understanding of the core role that phronesis plays in decision making. Second, we will try to get the original meaning of Aristotelian phronesis back. For reasons of space, in this paper the second question will be just partially addressed

Ética en donación de órganos: una alianza rentable / Ethics in organ donation: a symbiotic partnership

Los trasplantes de órganos son un gran avance de la medicina contemporánea. Sin embargo, para poder seguir creciendo y llegar a la autosuficiencia, es preciso que las actuaciones de los profesionales sanitarios tengan máximos estándares éticos. Solo así, con la población que confía en sus instituciones y en sus profesionales, se podrán atender las crecientes necesidades de trasplantes. Los conflictos éticos con la determinación de la muerte, la utilización de órganos de donantes con criterios expandidos, el trasplante con donantes vivos o por la asignación de órganos, deben poder resolverse atendiendo a protocolos que, permanentemente actualizados, permitan acreditar que la equidad, la beneficencia, la autonomía y la no maleficencia han sido contempladas en caso de conflictos. Si se hace bien, la capacidad teórica de donación alcanzará máximos, ya que la confianza entre población y profesionales sanitarios será óptima (AU)

Organ transplants represent extraordinary progress of modern medicine. However, in order to grow and become self-sufficient, it is necessary that the actions of health professionals have highest ethical standards. When people trust their institutions and their professionals, they will meet the needs of transplants. Ethical conflicts with the determination of death, the use of organs from expanded criteria donors, transplantation with living donors or organ allocation, should be able to be resolved with updated protocols, allowing establish that equity, autonomy, beneficence and justice, have been referred to in case of conflicts. If done well, improvements in donation will reach highs as trust between population and health professionals will be optimal (AU)

Neuroética: la dotación ética del cerebro humano / Neuroethics: ethical endowments of human brain

Los procesos neurobiológicos que subyacen al juicio ético es el foco de atención de la Neuroética. El conocimiento, desde las neurociencias, de qué áreas cerebrales se activan y cuales se silencian mientras las personas deciden cómo actuar ante un dilema moral, ha permitido conocer los correlatos cerebrales que subyacen a los actos humanos y ofrecer una explicación de cómo está impresa en la dinámica del cerebro la dotación ética de cada hombre y común a todos los hombres. De interés central es el papel causal que desempeñan las emociones en el juicio ético y en paralelo las áreas cerebrales relacionadas con las emociones. La finalidad de las inclinaciones naturales del hombre están fuertemente atadas, por hundir sus raíces en los sistemas instintivos de la supervivencia animal, sensible a las emociones básicas; y al mismo tiempo, e inseparablemente, la vida de cada hombre está liberada del automatismo de tales leyes, es decir, regido por la ley de la libertad. El juicio ético es propiedad innata de la mente (AU)

The neurobiological processes underlying moral judgement have been the focus of Neuroethics. Neurosciences demonstrate which cerebral areas are active and inactive whilst people decide how to act when facing a moral dilemma; in this way we know the correlation between determined cerebral areas and our human acts. We can explain how the 'ethical endowments' of each person, common to all human beings, is 'embedded' in the dynamic of cerebral flows. Of central interest is whether emotions play a causal role in moral judgement, and, in parallel, how emotion-related areas of the brain contribute to moral judgement. The outcome of man’s natural inclinations is on one hand linked to instinctive systems of animal survival and to basic emotions, and on the other, to the life of each individual human uninhibited by automatism of the biological laws, because he is governed by the laws of freedom. The capacity to formulate an ethical judgement is an innate asset of the human mind (AU)

Una mirada hermenéutica a las características curriculares de la formación humana y bioética en la Universidad de San Buenaventura / A hermeneutic look at the curricular characteristics of the human and bioethical formation at Saint Bonaventure University

El Campo temático que se presenta está direccionado hacia la descripción y sistematización de los desarrollos curriculares, (formativos e identitarios) de las instituciones de educación Superior franciscana del siglo XXI. Recoge los avances hermenéuticos y resultados investigativos en torno a la formación socio – humanista de la Universidad de San Buenaventura (USB), que se han liderado desde su unidad de apoyo académico “Formación humana y Bioética

The thematic field which is introduced here is directed towards the description and the systematization of curriculum development -formative and identitarian- of the Franciscan Higher Education of the 21st century institutions. It collects research results and hermeneutical advances around the socio-humanistic formation at Saint Bonaventure University (SBU), which have been promoted from the "Human Formation and Bioethics,” its academic support unit

Análisis de reglamentos de comités de ética en investigación (CEI) / Análise de regimentos de comitês de ética em pesquisa (CEPs) / Analysis of the regulations of investigation ethics committees (IEC)

Es importante que los reglamentos de los Comités de Ética en Investigación (CEI) se examinen y revisen continuamente para contribuir al perfeccionamiento de sus actividades. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar los reglamentos de los Comités de Ética en Investigación (CEI) de las Universidades del Estado de Bahia. Los datos de este estudio cuali-cuantitativo, descriptivo y documental fueron analizados con el Software Sphinx y la Técnica de Análisis de Contenido Temático. De acuerdo con el análisis, los reglamentos estudiados poseen similitudes y divergencias entre sí, así como con lo preconizado por la Resolución 196/1996 y por el Manual de operaciones para Comités de Ética en Investigación. Por consiguiente, necesitan revisión para atender mejor a esos documentos legales y perfeccionar las actividades de los CEP que rigen, con el objetivo de maximizar las potencialidades y minimizar las limitaciones de funcionamiento.

Constantly examining and revising the regulations of investigation ethics committees (IEC) is important to help perfect their activities. The objective of this study was to analyze the regulations of investigation ethics committees at the universities in the State of Bahia. The data from this qualitative-quantitative descriptive, documentary study were analyzed with Sphinx software and Thematic Content Analysis Technology. The analysis showed these regulations have similarities and differences among them, and in terms of what is called for in Resolution 196/1996 and the Operating Manual for Investigation Ethics Committees. Consequently, they need to be revised to address those legal documents more appropriately and to improve the activities overseen by these committees in order to take full advantage of the potential that exists and to minimize operational constraints.

É relevante que os regimentos dos Comitês de Ética em Pesquisa (CEPs) sejam continuamente revisados e estudados no intuito de contribuir para o aprimoramento de suas atividades. O objetivo desta investigação é analisar os regimentos dos Comitês de Ética em Pesquisa (CEP) das Universidades do Estado da Bahia. Os dados deste estudo quali-quantitativo, descritivo e documental foram analisados pelo Software Sphinx e pela Técnica de Análise de Conteúdo Temática. De acordo a análise realizada, os regimentos estudados possuem similaridades e divergências entre si e com o preconizado pela Resolução 196/1996 e pelo Manual Operacional para Comitês de Ética em Pesquisa. Portanto, necessitam passar por revisão para melhor atender a esses documentos legais e aprimorar as atividades dos CEPs por eles regidos, com intenção de maximizar as potencialidades e minimizar os entraves do seu funcionamento.

Ethical issues in risk communication: continuing the discussion.

Proposed in this article is one possible framework for classifying multiple types of ethical issues in risk communication research and practice to help continue a discussion initiated in 1990 by Morgan and Lave. Some of the questions that each stage of the process for planning risk communication strategies appears to pose for ethics are discussed (e.g., selecting issues to be communicated, knowing the issue, dealing with constraints). Also discussed briefly are some issues raised by the possibility that risk communicators aspire to the status of a profession. The purpose is to foster discussion rather than issue a conclusive statement on the topic, because its very nature makes a definitive pronouncement indefensible.

Healthy skepticism: the emperor has very few clothes.

The role of an expert witness in ethics, as part of a legal proceeding, is examined in this essay. The essay argues that the use of such expertise rests on confusions about normative and non-normative ethics compounded by misunderstandings about the challenges of moral argument in secular, morally pluralistic societies.

Key ethical issues encountered in healthcare organizations: perceptions of nurse executives.

By the very nature of their daily work, nurse executives find themselves at the crossroads of the changing and challenging healthcare ethical environment in which clinical ethics and organizational ethics often collide. The authors present the findings of a survey of members of American Organization of Nurse Executives aimed at more clearly identifying the key ethical issues encountered in healthcare organizations by their nurse executives and others. Implications of the findings for healthcare organizations and their managers also are discussed briefly.

Ethics expert testimony: against the skeptics.

There is great skepticism about the admittance of expert normative ethics testimony into evidence. However, a practical analysis of the way ethics testimony has been used in courts of law reveals that the skeptical position is itself based on assumptions that are controversial. We argue for an alternative way to understand such expert testimony. This alternative understanding is based on the practice of clinical ethics.