Aspectos éticos del uso del DIU Mirena(R) en el tratamiento de la hemorragia menstrual severa / Ethical aspects of the use of Mirena(R) IUD in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding

El dispositivo intrauterino liberador de levonorgestrel conocido como DIU Mirena(R) (20 mcg/24h), se considera hoy uno de los principales recursos en el tratamiento de la hemorragia menstrual severa. No obstante, debido a su efecto de prevención de la concepción y sobre todo a la sospecha de que también pueda poseer un efecto antiimplantatorio, existen fundadas dudas morales tanto en los profesionales como en las pacientes acerca de la licitud ética de su uso terapéutico. Este artículo presenta una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura para tratar de averiguar el mecanismo de acción del DIU Mirena(R), en orden a una valoración ética de su uso terapéutico atendiendo a estos dos efectos no deseados. Según la bibliografía más reciente, la modificación del factor cervical en las pacientes portadoras de DIU Mirena(R) parece impedir de modo consistente la penetración de los espermatozoides a través del cuello del útero, limitando de esta manera las posibilidades de concepción. En consecuencia, la probabilidad de inducir una pérdida embrionaria imputable al dispositivo parece ser prácticamente nula. Dado que no disponemos de alternativas terapéuticas que permitan conservar la fertilidad y tratar esta patología una vez que fracasan los tratamientos de primera línea, el efecto de prevención de la concepción en el uso del DIU Mirena(R), puede ser juzgado éticamente aceptable. No se puede concluir, asimismo, que tengan lugar pérdidas embrionarias atribuibles a su uso, que pudieran agravar su valoración moral

The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device known as Mirena IUD(R) (20 mcg/24h) is nowadays considered among the leading resources in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. Nonetheless, due to either its effect of prevention of conception and especially to the possibility that it may also have an anti-implantation effect, there is a founded concern on whether its therapeutic use may be ethically licit. This article engages in an exhaustive literature review in order to ascertain the mechanism of action of Mirena(R) IUD, in view of an ethical evaluation of its therapeutic use, keeping in mind those two unwanted effects. According to the most recent bibliography, the modification of the cervical mucus in patients carrying Mirena(R) IUD seems to consistently impede the spermatozoa penetration through the cervix, thus keeping down the probability of conception. Therefore, the likelihood of inducing an embryonic loss that can be ascribed to the device seems to be virtually nil. Given that there are no therapeutic alternatives that respect fertility as they address the pathology once the first-line treatments have failed, the prevention of fertilization effect of Mirena(R) IUD may be judged as ethically acceptable. Moreover one cannot conclude that the embryonic loss that might aggravate the moral evaluation of its use actually takes place

Cooperation with evil, the theory of action and the contraception mandate / Cooperación con el mal, la teoría de la acción y el mandato de anticoncepción / Cooperação com o mal, a teoria de ação e o mandato de contracepção

Abstract The debate concerning the so-called U.S.Health and Human Services (HHS) Contraception Mandatehas been adequately framed, in the academic field, within the traditional ethical doctrine oncooperation with evil. This principle will allow us to conclude whether employers may ethically comply with the onerous existing law or not. The discussion has been quite heated, because the practical conclusions authors have reached vary widely, depending on which interpretation of the theory they rely on. In this paper, some of these explanations are addressed and analyzed from the standpoint of the Thomistic theory of action, which is now the most common point of view. This work concludes that, although theContraception Mandatewill most likely be repealed by the current U.S. administration, as things once stood, compliance with it may have been ethically licit in some cases.

Resumen El debate académico sobre el llamadoU.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Contraception Mandatese ha enmarcado, adecuadamente, en el contexto de la doctrina clásica acerca de lacooperación al mal. Este principio ayuda a discernir si las empresas y los empleadores estadounidenses deberían o no, éticamente, obedecer a tal ley injustamente impuesta. La discusión ha sido muy acalorada, porque las conclusiones a las que han llegado los distintos autores son muy variadas, en función de cuál ha sido la interpretación de esta doctrina en cada caso. En el presente artículo hemos tratado de examinar y analizar alguno de estos intentos de explicación, desde la perspectiva de la teoría tomista de la acción -que hoy en día es el punto de vista más común-. El trabajo concluye que, aunque elMandateprobablemente vaya a ser derogado por el actual gobierno de los Estados Unidos, tal como estaban las cosas, la obediencia de esta ley podría haber sido éticamente lícita en algunos casos.

Resumo O debate acadêmico sobre o chamado Mandato de Contracepção, do U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), foi enquadrado, adequadamente, no contexto da doutrina clássica sobre a cooperação com o mal. Esse princípio ajuda a discernir se as empresas e os empregadores norte-americanos deveriam ou não, eticamente, obedecer a tal lei imposta injustamente. A discussão tem sido muito acalorada porque as conclusões a que diferentes autores chegaram são muito variadas, em função da interpretação dessa doutrina em cada caso. No presente artigo, buscamos examinar e analisar algumas dessas tentativas de explicação, a partir da perspectiva da Teoria Tomista da Ação - que, atualmente, é o ponto de vista mais comum. O trabalho conclui que, ainda que o mandato seja provavelmente revogado pelo atual governo dos Estados Unidos, assim como estavam as coisas, a obediência a essa lei poderia ter sido eticamente lícita em alguns casos.

[Ethical Aspects of the Use of Mirena(r) Iud in the Treatment of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding]. / Aspectos Éticos del Uso del Diu Mirena(r) En el Tratamiento de la Hemorragia Menstrual Severa.

The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device known as Mirena IUD(r) (20mcg/24h) is nowadays considered among the leading resources in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. Nonetheless, due to either its effect of prevention of conception and especially to the possibility that it may also have an anti-implantation effect, there is a founded concern on whether its therapeutic use may be ethically licit. This article engages in an exhaustive literature review in order to ascertain the mechanism of action of Mirena(r) IUD, in view of an ethical evaluation of its therapeutic use, keeping in mind those two unwanted effects. According to the most recent bibliography, the modification of the cervical mucus in patients carrying Mirena(r) IUD seems to consistently impede the spermatozoa penetration through the cervix, thus keeping down the probability of conception. Therefore, the likelihood of inducing an embryonic loss that can be ascribed to the device seems to be virtually nil. Given that there are no therapeutic alternatives that respect fertility as they address the pathology once the first-line treatments have failed, the prevention of fertilization effect of Mirena(r) IUD may be judged as ethically acceptable. Moreover one cannot conclude that the embryonic loss that might aggravate the moral evaluation of its use actually takes place.

[Abortifacient effect of hormonal contraceptives: a review]. / Efecto Abortivo de los Anticonceptivos Hormonales: Una Revisión.

Most of the scientific community, as well as in a sector of international Law, when referring to the unborn embryo, pregnancy must be defined as the period extending from implantation to natural birth. This implies some novelty, such as the redefinition of abortion as the elimination of the embryo only within this period, and the extension of contraception to any means that impedes the union of the gametes as a consequence of a sexual intercourse, or also that which eliminates the product of conception prior to its implantation. Therefore, the pharmaceutical industry markets, under the name of contraceptives, products that act also by means of an anti-implantation mechanism. This fact has great ethical implications regarding the respect for the embryo which require a reflection on the moral valuation of the prescription, dispensation and use of these means. One may ask: which of the contraceptive means actually present in the market include an anti-implantation effect? What mechanisms contribute to their pharmacological action and in what measure do they do this? This is what we have studied in this article, based on the available scientific bibliography. We have basically fulfilled a double objective: updating and completing the studies -few, partial or distant in time- that had this same subject matter; and offering a moral valuation on the use of hormonal contraceptives that may have an anti-implantation effect, from the point of view of the respect due to the embryonic life.

Efecto abortive de los anticonceptivos hormonales: una revisión / Abortifacient effect of hormonal contraceptives: a Review

En gran parte de la comunidad científica, así como del ámbito jurídico, al tratar del embrión no nacido, está vigente el criterio según el cual hay que definir el embarazo como el período que comprende sólo desde la implantación hasta el nacimiento natural. Esto lleva consigo otras novedades; por ejemplo, la redefinición de aborto como la eliminación del embrión sólo en ese período, o la extensión de la anticoncepción a cualquier medio que impida la unión entre los gametos como consecuencia de una relación íntima, o también que elimine el producto de la concepción antes de su implantación. De modo que la industria farmacéutica está lanzando al mercado, bajo el nombre de anticonceptivos, productos que actúan también mediante un mecanismo antiimplantatorio. Este hecho tiene grandes repercusiones éticas con relación al respeto del embrión, que obligan a reflexionar acerca de la valoración moral de la prescripción, dispensación y uso de estos medios. Ahora bien, ¿cuáles de los medios contraceptivos actualmente presentes en el mercado incluyen un efecto antiimplantatorio?, ¿qué mecanismos contribuyen a su acción farmacológica y en qué medida lo hacen? Esto es lo que hemos estudiado en este artículo, basándonos en la bibliografía científica disponible. Aunque no ha sido una tarea sencilla, puesto que los resultados aportados por la literatura varían mucho, se ha tratado de ofrecer una conclusión bastante precisa. Básicamente hemos cumplido un doble objetivo: actualizar y completar los estudios -pocos, parciales o lejanos en el tiempo- que tenían este mismo objeto; y ofrecer una valoración ética respecto al respeto de la vida naciente del uso de los anticonceptivos hormonales que pueden tener efecto antiimplantatorio

Most of the scientific community, as well as in a sector of international Law, when referring to the unborn embryo, pregnancy must be defined as the period extending from implantation to natural birth. This implies some novelty, such as the redefinition of abortion as the elimination of the embryo only within this period, and the extension of contraception to any means that impedes the union of the gametes as a consequence of a sexual intercourse, or also that which eliminates the product of conception prior to its implantation. Therefore, the pharmaceutical industry markets, under the name of contraceptives, products that act also by means of an anti-implantation mechanism. This fact has great ethical implications regarding the respect for the embryo which require a reflection on the moral valuation of the prescription, dispensation and use of these means. One may ask: which of the contraceptive means actually present in the market include an anti-implantation effect? What mechanisms contribute to their pharmacological action and in what measure do they do this? This is what we have studied in this article, based on the available scientific bibliography. We have basically fulfilled a double objective: updating and completing the studies -few, partial or distant in time- that had this same subject matter; and offering a moral valuation on the use of hormonal contraceptives that may have an anti-implantation effect, from the point of view of the respect due to the embryonic life

[Reviewing the so-called ″Living Will″]. / Revisando el llamado ″Testamento Vital″.

Cases like those of Terry Schiavo or Eluana Englaro have given rise to a lot of discussions at all levels. What both of them have in common is that, beyond the reasons given for terminating their lives and the methods used to achieve it, their destiny was not decided by them. This has resulted in a lot of heated debates in the public sphere as well as in the juridical, political, medical and speculative-ethical fields. Many people have been led to ask themselves: ″Wouldn't a better solution have been found if the desire of both persons had been known without any shadow of doubt, in the case that they had foreseen the situation in which they eventually found themselves in?″. The concept of the so-called Living Will appears to be a good solution for such cases. However, in the years in which attempts have been made to introduce this into practice, important ethical questions regarding end-of-life situations have come up: Can everything in my life, including when and how I die, be part of a legacy? Is a person who enjoys good health in a position to autonomously determine how he would like to be treated if, in an uncertain future, he ends up in a situation where he is incapable of communicating his wishes? Is the ordinary citizen capable of domineering the multiplicity of treatments, diagnosis and prognosis which medical science has to offer? Is it the same thing to forego a complicated treatment as to renounce artificial feeding and hydration? This article examines all these arguments, offering at the same time the case for and the case against the so-called Living Will.