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PubMed1997

The new Italian code of medical ethics.

In June 1995, the Italian code of medical ethics was revised in order that its principles should reflect the ever-changing relationship between the medical profession and society and between physicians and patients. The updated code is also a response to new ethical problems created by scientific progress; the discussion of such problems often shows up a need for better understanding on the part of the medical profession itself. Medical deontology is defined as the discipline for the study of norms of conduct for the health care professions, including moral and legal norms as well as those pertaining more strictly to professional performance. The aim of deontology is therefore, the in-depth investigation and revision of the code of medical ethics. It is in the light of this conceptual definition that one should interpret a review of the different codes which have attempted, throughout the various periods of Italy's recent history, to adapt ethical norms to particular social and health care climates.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMed2001

The embryo question.

In Italy, the seat of the Vatican, the problem of the "rights of the embryo" has been particularly felt and has caused bitter debate between laymen and clergy. The disagreement has focused primarily on the definition of "person," "individual," and the "beginning of life." Catholics, for the most part, have contested the concept of the "pre-embryo" and have tried to have a law passed that would impede the production and freezing of supernumerary embryos (according to the hypothesis of the "simple case"). In the same way, Catholics have strongly opposed the possible manipulation of embryos, including pre-implant genetic investigations. In addition to Catholic teachings, the National Committee for Bioethics has also declared itself favorable to the protection of the "waking life." It published a special document on the theme in a period in which the Committee was composed only of strict Catholics, following action taken by the then Prime Minister, Berlusconi, who believed it necessary to exclude and remove all lay members from the Committee. The document of the National Committee for Bioethics, which distinguishes itself for having declared that "the embryo is one of us," has been the cause of a transversal political aggregation that has gathered Catholic parliamentarians from different political parties and that has begun a campaign to acknowledge the prerogatives and rights of the embryo which Italian law attributes only to the baby after its birth. An intense debate continues on all these themes, and in back of all this is the warning from the Church to re-examine the Italian law dealing with the voluntary interruption of pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The ethics of electro-shock therapy.

Last September the Italian National Commission on Bioethics issued an opinion on the use of electro-shock (or electroconvulsive) therapy. It has now been made available in English translation and is reprinted here. The commission had been asked for an opinion by the leader of the Green Party group on Rome City Council. The request specifically asked whether it was now advisable to suspend the practice of this particular therapy. In producing its opinion, the commission's members seem to have consulted widely within Italy but not much outside.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMed1993

The intellectual basis of bioethics in Southern European countries.

Today the Western world harbors, at least, three very different ethical traditions, each with its own characteristics: the Anglo-Saxon, the Northern (or Central) European, and the Mediterranean. Because modern bioethics made its appearance in the Anglo-American culture, Europeans in general, and Mediterraneans in particular, have attempted not simply to "import" or "translate" bioethics, but rather to "recreate" or "remake" the discipline according to their own cultural and ethical traditions. In my presentation, I would like to explain the peculiarities of Mediterranean bioethics, analyzing the following seven points: First, how they think bioethics should be philosophically founded; Second, the Mediterranean ethics of virtue and the doctor-patient relationship; Third, the relationship between Ethics and Law; Fourth, Health Care Systems and Ethics, Fifth, the problems concerning patient rights; Sixth, ethics by Committees; and finally, some general conclusions.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ethics committees in Italy--a time for change?

The Comitato Nazionale per la Bioetica (CNB) in Italy has recently produced an unprecedented discussion document on the state of ethics committees in Italy, with an invitation to interested parties to comment on proposed changes to their fundamental structure. After this consultation, and taking note of relevant official publications and the most recent national and international literature on the subject, the CNB proposes to produce a final, definitive document that will consider options for the future development of such committees.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMed2004

[Resources of information in the field of bioethics in Italy: survey of the present state and perspectives].

The research project "Collection and dissemination of bioethical information through an integrated electronic system", started in 2001 by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), had among its objectives, the realization of an integrated system for data collection and exchange of documents related to bioethics. The system should act as a reference tool for those research activities impacting on citizens' health and welfare. This paper aims at presenting some initiatives, developed in the project framework, in order to establish an Italian documentation network, among which: a) exchange of ISS publications with Italian institutions active in this field; b) survey through a questionnaire aimed at assessing Italian informative resources, state-of-the-art and holdings of documentation centres and ethical committees; c) Italian Internet resources analysis. The results of the survey, together with the analysis of web sites, show that at present in Italy there are many interesting initiatives for collecting and spreading of documentation in the bioethical fields, but there is an urgent need for an integration of such resources. Ethical committees generally speaking need a larger availability of documents, while there are good potentialities for the establishment of an electronic network for document retrieval and delivery.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed2004

[Bioethics: problems and prospects within a research institute].

Bioethics aims to identify an ethical framework by means of a multidisciplinary debate open to the scientific community, in order to allow support to scientists involved in biomedical research. The Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health) has recognized the need for an ethical review board to cope with the problems of different researches carried on within the Institute. An Ethics Committee, better defined as an Independent Review Board, has therefore been appointed by the Minister of Health in order to evaluate different research proposals ranging from clinical trials to non clinical biomedical research. The experience of the first Committee is described.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed1998

Genetic screening and ethics: European perspectives.

Analysis and comparison of genetic screening programs shows that the extent of development of programs varies widely across Europe. Regional variations are due not only to genetic disease patterns but also reflect the novelty of genetic services. In most countries, the focus for genetic screening programs has been pregnant women and newborn children. Newborn children are screened only for disorders which are treatable. Prenatal screening when provided is for conditions for which termination may be offered. The only population screening programs for adults are those for thalassaemia carrier status in Cyprus, Greece and Italy. Social responses to genetic screening range from acceptance to hostility. There is a fundamental tension between individual and community in the debates in various European countries about implementation of screening programs. Opposition to genetic screening is frequently expressed in terms of arguments about "eugenics" with insufficient regard to the meaning of the term and its implications. Only a few countries have introduced explicit legislation on genetic screening. Legislation to address discrimination may provide more safeguards than legislation protecting genetic information itself.

Adult↗