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Biomedical subjects

Debora Diniz

Publications and source records attributed to Debora Diniz.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[When death is an act of care: refusing life support for children].

This paper analyzes a court case involving parents' refusal of life support measures for an 8-month-old infant with spinal muscular atrophy type I, a fatal degenerative genetic disease. The parents filed for a court injunction to ensure that the infant would not be submitted to mechanical ventilation in case of respiratory distress. The Brazilian courts recognized the parents' right to refuse life support measures, and the infant died a week after the ruling. The parents' request was to guarantee their right to avoid medical procedures that would not alter the infant's clinical prognosis. The author of this paper was called on to provide expert ethical counsel in this case, and the article is a modified and condensed version of the author's report to the presiding judge.

Brazil↗
PubMed2005

[Confidentiality, genetic counseling, and public health: a case study on sickle cell trait].

Sickle cell anemia is the most prevalent genetic disease in Brazil. Screening for sickle cell trait in blood donation centers has been recommended by the Brazilian government since 1976. This screening mechanism is one of most common forms of genetic screening for sickle cell disease in the country. This article is based on an ethnographic survey of individuals undergoing genetic counseling in a large blood donation center. The article contends that confidentiality should be a prerequisite for the broad dissemination of genetic information in public health. The ethical principle of confidentiality needs to be seen as a human right and public health issue.

Bioethical Issues↗
PubMed2005

[Abortion and fetal non-viability: the Brazilian debate].

The Case Against Non-Compliance with the Fundamental Principle concerning Anencephaly, under review by the Brazilian Supreme Court, is a milestone in the debate on abortion in Latin America. Since the currently prevailing version of the Brazilian Penal Code was enacted in 1940, there has been fierce resistance to any change in the country's abortion policy. This article discusses the arguments and political strategies used in the anencephaly suit brought before the Supreme Court, particularly the ethical and legal position that interruption of pregnancy in cases of anencephaly does not constitute abortion, but should be considered a therapeutic anticipation of delivery.

Abortion, Legal↗
PubMed2004

[Sickle Cell Anaemia: a Brazilian Problem. A bioethical approach to the new genetics].

This article analyzes one of the educational initiatives of the Brazilian Ministry of Health on hemoglobinopathies: the leaflet entitled Sickle Cell Anaemia: A Brazilian Problem. The purpose is to discuss the moral values associated with initiatives in genetics education, and the case study focuses on public policies related to sickle cell anaemia in Brazil. The analysis shows that the topics in the leaflets fluctuate between disease prevention policies and human rights protection, a basic characteristic of the new genetics. In addition, the leaflet s excessive biomedical information hinders understanding by lay readers. The results are analyzed in the light of the contemporary bioethical debate on the new genetics.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMed2003

[Reproductive autonomy: a case study on deafness].

The ethical principle of reproductive autonomy is one of the cornerstones of bioethical theories. Prenatal diagnostic techniques and advances in genetics have broadened the spectrum of possibilities for reproductive choice. Consequently, they allow for selection in diagnosed cases of fetal malformation, for instance. This article analyzes the case of deafness, in particular the argument from the deaf community that supports the birth of deaf children as a way of maintaining its cultural identity. The article discusses the community's culturalist argument that deafness should not be considered a disability. Furthermore, the article considers the extent to which reproductive decisions by potential parents could limit the development of their future children.

Bioethics↗
PubMed2002

New reproductive technologies, ethics and gender: the legislative process in Brazil.

In this article, I will analyse the conduct of the Brazilian legislative process regarding new reproductive technologies, mainly the moral assumptions of three categories that are essential to the debate: the status of the child generated by these techniques; the number of embryos transferred in each cycle (as well as foetal reduction); and the issue of women's eligibility for such techniques. The analysis will be a sociological study of the Brazilian legislative debate, using feminist perspectives in ethics as the theoretical reference. The focus will be the bills in progress in the Brazilian National Congress, the public and official declarations of legislators involved in the issue and the regulation of the medical class, which has influenced the legislative process. Aside from the analysis of the legislative process, I include a section on the justification of these bills, since that is where the legislator exposes what he/she believes is the moral support for the bill.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Biothics in Brazil.

In this article the authors briefly sketch the nature of Brazilian bioethics. Bioethics emerged in Brazil later than in other Western countries and the 1990's were the most important period for the spread of the discipline in the country. It is in this period that some structural elements of bioethics were established, such as research groups, regulation of Local Research Ethics Committees (Comitês Locais de Etica em Pesquisa -- CEP), the creation of the National Commission of Ethics in Research with Human Beings (Comissão Nacional de Etica em Pesquisa com Seres Humanos -- CONEP) and the Brazilian Bioethics Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Bioética -- SBB). With regard to theoretical work, Brazilian bioethics is clearly an importer of theories from countries central to the studies of bioethics, or, in other words, countries where biothics first emerged and was established. The most commonly used theory among Brazilian researchers is principalism.

Bioethics↗