The hunger strike in prison: bioethical and medico-legal insights arising from a recent opinion of the Italian national bioethics committee.

This contribution addresses some bioethical and medico-legal issues of the opinion formulated by the Italian National Bioethics Committee (CNB) in response to the dilemma between the State's duty to protect the life and health of the prisoner entrusted to its care and the prisoner's right to exercise his freedom of expression. The prisoner hunger strike is a form of protest frequently encountered in prison and it is a form of communication but also a language used by the prisoner in order to provoke changes in the prison condition. There are no rules in the prison regulations, nor in the laws governing the legal status of prisoners, that allow the conscious will of the capable and informed subject to be opposed and forced nutrition to be carried out. However, this can in no manner make therapeutic abandonment legitimate: the medical doctor should promote every action to support the patient. In the recent opinion formulated by the CNB it was remarked how self-determination is a central concept in human rights and refers to an individual's ability to make autonomous and free decisions about his or her life and body.

La constitucionalización de los comités de bioética / La constitucionalització dels comitès de bioètica / The constitutionalization of Bioethics Committees

Una reciente sentencia del Tribunal Supremo ha basado el fallo en un informe del Comité de Bioética de España sobre la maternidad subrogada, lo que coincide con un creciente debate acerca de la necesidad de incorporar este tipo de comités a la Carta Magna de cada país. Sin embargo, su constitucionalización plantea no pocos problemas, tanto por la posible composición de dicho órgano como por la naturaleza de sus informes y su relación con el poder legislativo y el judicial. Para analizar esta compleja cuestión, y empleando como hilo vertebrador la resolución judicial dictada sobre la maternidad subrogada, estudiaremos tres alternativas y su reflejo en dicha temática, en concreto: a) como “juego de suma cero” versus“reparto de cromos”; b) como “igualdad de oportunidades versus“igualdad de resultados”: c) como consecuencia de la Cuarta Revolución Industrial.(AU)

Una recent sentència del Tribunal Suprem ha basat la fallada en un informe del Comitè de Bioètica d'Espanya sobre la maternitat subrogada, la qual cosa coincideix amb un creixent debat sobre la necessitat d'incorporar aquest tipus de comitès a la Carta Magna de cada país. No obstant això, la seva constitucionalització planteja no pocs problemes, tant per la possible composició d'aquest òrgan com per la naturalesa dels seus informes i la seva relació amb el poder legislatiu i el judicial. Per a analitzar aquesta complexa qüestió, i emprant com a fil vertebrador la resolució judicial dictada sobre la maternitat subrogada, estudiarem tres alternatives i el seu reflex en aquesta temàtica, en concret: a) com a “joc de suma zero” versus“repartiment de cromos”; b)com a “igualtat d'oportunitats versus“igualtat de resultats”: c) a conseqüència de la Quarta Revolució Industrial.(AU)

A recent ruling by the Supreme Court has based the ruling on a report by the Spanish Bioethics Committee on surrogate motherhood, which coincides with a growing debate about the need to incorporate this type of committee into the Magna Carta of each country. However, its constitutionalization poses many problems, both due to the possible composition of said body and the nature of its reports and its relationship with the legislative and judicial powers. In order to analyze this complex issue, and using the judicial resolution issued on surrogate motherhood as the backbone, we will study three alternatives and their reflection on said theme, specifically: a) as a "zero-sum game" versus"distribution of cards"; b) as “equal opportunities versus“equal results”: c) as a consequence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.(AU)

A Thorough Synthesis of Phage Therapy Unit Activity in Poland-Its History, Milestones and International Recognition.

The year 2020 marked 15 years of the Phage Therapy Unit in Poland, the inception of which took place just one year after Poland's accession to the European Union (2004). At first sight, it is hard to find any connection between these two events, but in fact joining the European Union entailed the need to adapt the regulatory provisions concerning experimental treatment in humans to those that were in force in the European Union. These changes were a solid foundation for the first phage therapy center in the European Union to start its activity. As the number of centers conducting phage therapy in Europe and in the world constantly and rapidly grows, we want to grasp the opportunity to take a closer look at the over 15-year operation of our site by analyzing its origins, legal aspects at the local and international levels and the impressive number and diversity of cases that have been investigated and treated during this time. This article is a continuation of our work published in 2020 summarizing a 100-year history of the development of phage research in Poland.

25 años de legislación biomédica en España / 25 years of biomedical legislation in Spain

Se recoge a continuación el texto de la intervención del Profesor ROMEO CASABONA con ocasión del Acto Conmemorativo “25 Años de Legislación Biomédica en España”, organizado por el Comité de Bioética de España y el G.I. Cátedra de Derecho y Genoma Humano, que se celebró el día 19 de mayo de 2022 en el Congreso de los Diputados, en Madrid. En el acto, que fue presencial y en streaming, intervinieron el Profesor ROMEO CASABONA, Director del G.I. Cátedra de Derecho y Genoma Humano, y Federico DE MONTALVO, Presidente del Comité de Bioética de España, además de otras autoridades y especialistas (Aitziber EMALDI CIRIÓN, Vicente BELLVER CAPELLA, Francisco GRACIA NAVARRO, Marcelo PALACIOS, Antonio ALARCÓ HERNÁNDEZ, Javier SÁNCHEZ CARO, Ricardo DE LORENZO Y MONTERO, Victoria CAMPS, Iñigo DE MIGUEL, Pilar NICOLÁS).(AU)

This paper includes the intervention of Professor ROMEO CASABONA on the occasion of the Commemorative Ceremony “25 Years of Biomedical Legislation in Spain”, organised by the Spanish Bioethics Committee and the Chair in Law and the Human Genome R.G., which was held on 19 May 2022 in the Congress of Deputies, in Madrid. Professor ROMEO CASABONA, Director of the Chair in Law and the Human Genome R.G. and Chair in Law and the Human Genome, and Federico DE MONTALVO, President of the Spanish Bioethics Committee, as well as other authorities and specialists (Aitziber EMALDI CIRIÓN, Vicente BELLVER CAPELLA, Francisco GRACIA NAVARRO, Marcelo PALACIOS, Antonio ALARCÓ HERNÁNDEZ, Javier SÁNCHEZ CARO, Ricardo DE LORENZO Y MONTERO, Victoria CAMPS, Iñigo DE MIGUEL, Pilar NICOLÁS).(AU)

Los comités de bioética. Aspectos de interés en la relación entre bioética y derecho / Bioethics committees. Aspects of Interest in the Relationship Between Bioethics and Law / Comitês de Bioética. Aspectos de interesse na relação entre bioética e direito

Resumen: Los comités de bioética apoyan las instancias sociales y gubernamentales que se encargan de la toma de decisiones en cuestiones relacionadas con el desarrollo de las nuevas tecnologías sobre la vida. Estas cuestiones se caracterizan por su problematicidad y conflictividad. Las reflexiones y decisiones que provienen de los comités de bioética las podemos analizar en relación con las fuentes del derecho. Siendo así, hay que admitir que el derecho ha de abrirse a otra clase de discursos, lo que toca el corazón mismo de la ciencia del derecho. El artículo presenta del objeto de investigación explicando varios aspectos que se consideran relevantes para entender la relación que se da entre bioética y derecho; luego, desarrolla una discusión a partir de unos elementos críticos o teóricos a partir de los resultados encontrados en la búsqueda bibliográfica; por último, el artículo formula una tesis o solución. El método que se sigue es analítico-sintético. El artículo no se ocupa, propiamente, de dar soluciones prácticas a los problemas en bioética, como sí de analizar, de forma general, un nuevo campo de interacción entre la bioética y el derecho.

Abstract: The bioethics committees support the social and governmental instances that are responsible for making decisions on issues related to the development of new technologies on life. These issues are characterized by their problematic and conflictive nature. The reflections and decisions that come from the bioethics committees can be analyzed in relation to the sources of law. This being the case, it must be admitted that the law has to open itself to another class of discourses, which touches the very heart of the science of law. The article presents the object of the research explaining several aspects that are considered relevant to understanding the relationship between bioethics and law; then, it develops a discussion based on some critical or theoretical elements based on the results found in the bibliographic search; finally, the article formulates a thesis or solution. The method followed is analytical-synthetic. Strictly speaking, the article does not deal with providing practical solutions to problems in bioethics, but rather with analyzing, in a general way, a new field of interaction between bioethics and law.

Resumo: Os comitês de bioética apoiam as instâncias sociais e governamentais responsáveis pela tomada de decisões sobre questões relacionadas ao desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias sobre a vida. Essas questões são caracterizadas por sua natureza problemática e conflitiva. As reflexões e decisões provenientes dos comitês de bioética podem ser analisadas em relação às fontes do direito. Sendo assim, deve-se admitir que o direito tem que se abrir para outra classe de discursos, que toca o próprio coração da ciência do direito. O artigo apresenta o objeto de pesquisa explicitando diversos aspectos considerados relevantes para compreender a relação entre bioética e direito; em seguida, desenvolve uma discussão com base em alguns elementos críticos ou teóricos a partir dos resultados encontrados na pesquisa bibliográfica; Finalmente, o artigo formula uma tese ou solução. O método seguido é analítico-sintético. O artigo não trata, estritamente falando, de dar soluções práticas a problemas em bioética, mas sim de analisar, de maneira geral, um novo campo de interação entre bioética e direito.

Content development footprints for the establishment of a National Bioethics Committee: lessons from Nigeria.

Nigeria is experiencing, together with the rest of the world, consequences of relentlessly accelerating technological developments, in the contexts of relative lagging of developments in the Humanities, new discoveries in sciences and technological innovations, advances in medicine, changes in government policies and norms, rapid changes in the society, unhealthy practices in the area of food and agriculture, degradation of the environment as well as climate change. Furthermore, Nigeria as a Member State of UNESCO Bioethics is expected to have a National Bioethics Committee to enhance her participation in global concerns, as well as increase her opportunities to tap into global Bioethics resources. For this Committee to be established, the National Bioethics Framework and Policy Documents must be put in place. This paper discusses the rigorous process of developing the National Bioethics Framework and the National Bioethics Policy Documents as well as the need for a National Bioethics Committee in Nigeria.

The Motion of the Italian National Bioethics Committee on Aggressive Treatment towards Children with Limited Life Expectancy.

The motion of the Italian National Bioethics Committee entitled "Aggressive treatment or therapeutic obstinacy on young children with limited life expectancy" comprises a premise that rejects therapeutic obstinacy and makes 12 recommendations. Recommendation no. 1 states the general rules: it ascribes a cardinal role to a shared care plan, it supports pain management therapy and pain relief, it opposes ineffective and disproportionate clinical treatment and defensive medicine. The other recommendations are correlated to the enacting of a national law establishing clinical ethics committees in paediatric hospitals; participation of parents and their fiduciaries in the decision-making processes; recourse to courts only as extrema ratio in the event of irremediable disagreement between the medical team and the family members; accompaniment at the end of life also through continuous deep sedation combined with pain therapy; access to palliative care; the need to reinforce research on pain and suffering in children; clinical trials and research studies conducted in children; the training of doctors, healthcare personnel and psychologists, to support parents in emotional and practical terms; the facilitation of the closeness of parents to children in extremely precarious clinical conditions; the relevant role of the associations of parents of sick children. Comments are made, in particular, about the innovative recommendations respectively relating to the adoption of care planning, the establishment, by law, of clinical ethics committees in paediatric hospitals and the limitation of recourse to courts-only as extrema ratio-in the event of irremediable disagreement between the medical team and the family members.

[When to consult the institutional bioethics committee? The deliberative method for resolving possible dilemmas]. / ¿Cuándo acudir al comité de bioética institucional? El método deliberativo para resolver posibles dilemas.

In healthcare, an ethical concern that arises during the decision making process is considered to be a bioethical dilemma. It is often the case that in the absence of proper deliberation, the problem is transferred to a bioethics committee, not even representing precisely a dilemma. Bioethics emerged as a discipline in the mid-20th century. It is defined as a support to decision-making in ethical dilemmas centered on two aspects: ethics of clinical investigation, focused on protecting the rights of research subjects, and bioethics in medical practice, of an advisory nature. To recognize the difference among difficult or complex clinical circumstances and ethical dilemmas could allow knowing when it is necessary to request for advice of a committee. It is not so much a question of deciding what is right or wrong, but which is the most advisable solution to a problem. We review the history of Bioethics Committees in Argentina that are facing today the challenge of promoting social responsibility and opening deliberations to community and health professionals. In the 20th century two historical moments are recognized: a pioneering and slow first period, and a second one of legal regulatory framework. Considering deliberation as a method of ethics, this article proposes a case analysis procedure and the deliberative method to elucidate dilemmas, with or without the help of a Committee.

¿Cuándo acudir al comité de bioética institucional?: El método deliberativo para resolver posibles dilemas / When to consult the institutional bioethics committee? The deliberative method for resolving possible dilemmas

En cuestiones de salud, cuando en el proceso de toma de decisiones se produce alguna tensión entre principios éticos, se considera estar frente a un dilema bioético. Puede suceder que, ante la falta de reflexión, se traslade a un Comité de Bioética Asistencial la resolución de problemas complejos que no constituyen estrictamente un dilema. La bioética surge como disciplina a mediados del siglo XX. Se define como una ayuda para la toma de decisiones en los dilemas éticos, centrada en dos aspectos: la ética de investigación para proteger los derechos de los sujetos de investigación; y la bioética asistencial, de carácter consultivo. Diferenciar entre situaciones clínicas difíciles o complejas y dilemas éticos, propiamente dichos, teniendo en cuenta los valores implicados, permitiría saber cuándo es necesario pedir un asesoramiento a un Comité. No se trata tanto de decidir qué es correcto o incorrecto, cuanto de cuál es la solución más recomendable a un problema. Se revisa la historia de los Comités de Bioética en Argentina que afrontan hoy el desafío de promover la responsabilidad social, abriendo las deliberaciones hacia la comunidad y los profesionales de la salud. En el siglo XX se distinguen dos momentos históricos: una primera etapa lenta y pionera y una segunda que obedece a la existencia del marco regulatorio legal. Teniendo en cuenta a la deliberación como método de la ética, este artículo propone un procedimiento de análisis de casos y el método deliberativo para resolver situaciones dilemáticas, con o sin la ayuda de un Comité.

In healthcare, an ethical concern that arises during the decision making process is considered to be a bioethical dilemma. It is often the case that in the absence of proper deliberation, the problem is transferred to a bioethics committee, not even representing precisely a dilemma. Bioethics emerged as a discipline in the mid-20th century. It is defined as a support to decision-making in ethical dilemmas centered on two aspects: ethics of clinical investigation, focused on protecting the rights of research subjects, and bioethics in medical practice, of an advisory nature. To recognize the difference among difficult or complex clinical circumstances and ethical dilemmas could allow knowing when it is necessary to request for advice of a committee. It is not so much a question of deciding what is right or wrong, but which is the most advisable solution to a problem. We review the history of Bioethics Committees in Argentina that are facing today the challenge of promoting social responsibility and opening deliberations to community and health professionals. In the 20th century two historical moments are recognized: a pioneering and slow first period, and a second one of legal regulatory framework. Considering deliberation as a method of ethics, this article proposes a case analysis procedure and the deliberative method to elucidate dilemmas, with or without the help of a Committee.

Bioethics and the Italian National Bioethics Committee: historical highlights.

Though the term "bioethics" was coined in 1970-1, it was immediately after World War II that there emerged the idea that the voluntary consent of human beings was absolutely mandatory for medical interventions to be ethically acceptable. The 1964 Declaration of Helsinki asserted that only an explicit consent could morally and ethically justify research on human beings. In the 1978 "Encyclopedia of Bioethics", the US author Warren T. Reich defined bioethics as the systematic study of human behaviour in the fields of health care and life sciences, and carefully differentiated the epistemological profile of bioethics from that of traditional medical ethics deriving from the Hippocratic Oath. An institutional milestone in the Italian evolution of bioethical knowledge and competence was the foundation of the Italian National Bioethics Committee (NBC), established in 1990. The NBC, which answers to the Council of Ministers, provides methodological support to the Italian Government in the field of bioethical issues, elaborating legislative acts and also furnishing information and consultation for other bodies and associations and for the general public. The activity of the NBC is clearly discernible in its free and user-friendly website. Today, the Internet is often the first repository where individuals and patients look for bioethical information. Given that the quality of this information is extremely variable and not infrequently unreliable, initiatives such as that of the above mentioned NBC website are particularly useful and precious both for health care operators and the entire community.

Análisis sobre la acreditación de los comités de bioética / Analysis on the accreditation of bioethics committees

El trabajo realizado por los comités de Bioética es muy complejo, la solución de conflictos donde están involucrados aspectos relacionados con la ética de la vida o de la salud, no siempre tienen una sola solución. Es importante que estos comités se constituyan en las instituciones, para garantizar los derechos y el trato humanista de los profesionales o instituciones dedicadas al sector de la salud. Sin embargo, la posibilidad de acreditar estos comités resultaría muy beneficiosa para las comunidades donde actuarían, ya que además de garantizar el cumplimiento de normas y procedimientos, se podría crear una nueva instancia deliberativa, que ampliaría el proceso de conocimiento y toma de decisiones en el trato y en la resolución de conflictos. Asimismo, en estas reflexiones se reconoce la necesidad de que una participación racional y pluralista permitiría promover soluciones acordes a los problemas, y no solo desde el ámbito de determinado comité, sino de una instancia superior; que trabaje acorde a los mismos mecanismos y principios.

The work done by the committees of Bioethics is very complex, conflict resolution which are involved ethical aspects of life or health, do not always have a single solution. It is important that these committees are formed in institutions, to ensure the rights and humanistic treatment professionals or institutions dedicated to the health sector. However, the ability to establish these committees would be very beneficial to the communities where they act, as well as ensuring compliance with rules and procedures; you could create a new instance deliberative process would expand the knowledge and decision-making in the treatment and resolution of conflicts. Also, in these reflections recognizes the need for rational and pluralistic participation would promote consistent solutions to problems, and not only from the field of specific committee, but a higher court, which works according to the same mechanisms and principles.

El comité de bioética, instancia deliberativa, académica y científica / The bioethics committee: a deliberative, academic, and scientific instance

A continuación se postulan Los Comités de Bioética como organismos de carácter deliberativos, axiológicos y deontológicos, fruto de la conciencia y el compromiso ético-critico de la población académica y científica para aportar de una forma pragmática y concreta a problemáticas que tocan directamente al hombre de hoy y su repercusión global futura. Presenta su acción imprescindible y incidencia en el debate bioético actual, sus características, dificultades, compromisos educativos y sus desafíos.

This article sets outs Bioethics Committees as organisms of deliberative, axiological, and deontological nature, as a result of the awareness and ethical-critical commitment of the academic and scientific population in order to contribute, in a pragmatic and concrete manner, to issues which directly deal with today´s man and their future global impact. It presents their essential action and incidence in the current bioethical debate, their characteristics, difficulties, educational commitments and challenges.

Breve histórico da Bioética em Santa Catarina / A brief history of Bioethic in Santa Catarina

Objetivando identificar a presença e participação daBioética em Santa Catarina foi feita uma revisão bibliográficae levantadas as principais atividades relativas àsua difusão, sob a forma de comitês de ética em pesquisa,eventos, publicações científicas, núcleos de estudose outras modalidades, com identificação das instituiçõese cidades que albergam estas iniciativas. Os resultadosdemonstram as presenças dos comitês de ética em pesquisa,tanto em seres humanos quanto em animais, comoa mais regular na discussão dos princípios e referenciaisbioéticos. Demonstra-se a escassa presença dos Comitêsde Bioética Hospitalar (Comitês de Bioética Clínica)no suporte aos pacientes, seus familiares e equipes desaúde e destaca-se a existência de uma proposta inovadorade criação de Comitês Intermunicipais de Bioéticaa serem inseridos na atenção básica à saúde para apoioaos gestores, aos profissionais da saúde e à população.É enfatizada a existência de inúmeras obras sobre ética/bioética, na forma de livros e artigos em periódicoscientíficos, ressaltando-se a Série ETHICA/Editora daUniversidade Federal de Santa Catarina e a produçãodos Núcleos de Estudos em Bioética. Com a criação, em2009, da Sociedade Brasileira de Bioética ? Regional deSanta Catarina, institucionaliza-se a presença da Bioéticaem solo catarinense, acreditando-se que a mesma possaaglutinar e alavancar novas iniciativas, atrair novasadesões e ampliar os debates sobre a Bioética, como oX Congresso Brasileiro de Bioética e o II CongressoBrasileiro de Bioética Clínica que serão realizados emFlorianópolis, em 2013. Conclui-se ser expressiva apresença da Bioética em Santa Catarina, assim como aparticipação de interessados, sobretudo dos vinculadosao meio acadêmico, e serem diversificadas as atividadesdesenvolvidas.

To identify the presence and role of bioethics in SantaCatarina, we performed a bibliographic review of themain aspects related to the spread of bioethics, such asethics committees on research, events, scientific publications,study centers and other facets of bioethics. Wealso identified the institutions and cities that house theseinitiatives. The results demonstrate the presence ofethics committees for research on human beings andanimals as the most common initiative in discussionsregarding the principles and benchmarks of bioethics.We observed the limited presence of hospital bioethicscommittees (Committees of Clinical Bioethics) in supportof patients, their relatives and teams of healthcareworkers. We highlight an innovative proposal to integrateIntermunicipal Bioethics Committees into primaryhealthcare services to support managers, health professionals,and the public. We note the existence of numerousworks on ethics and bioethics, including booksand articles in scientific journals, and we highlight theseries ETHICA, published by the Federal University ofSanta Catarina and produced by the Center for the Studyof Bioethics. With the creation of the Regional SantaCatarina Brazilian Bioethics Society in 2009, the presenceof bioethics was institutionalized in the state of SantaCatarina. We believe that this organization can unite andleverage new initiatives, attract new members, and extendthe debate on bioethics, as the X Brazilian Congresson Bioethics and the II Brazilian Congress on ClinicalBioethic that will be realized in Florianópolis (2013). Weconclude that there is a significant presence of bioethicsin Santa Catarina as well as significant involvement fromstakeholders, particularly those in the academic environment,and that activities to promote bioethics have beendeveloped in Santa Catarina.

Evolución, impacto y aplicación de la bioética en el recién nacido / Evolution, impact and application of bioethics in the newborn

El objetivo de este trabajo es describir, con un enfoque práctico, la aplicación de la bioética en el recién nacido. Se analizan dilemas éticos como: tamiz neonatal, bancos de sangre de cordón umbilical, terapia génica, fertilización in vitro, niños anencefálicos como donadores de órganos, circuncisión, el neonato como sujeto de investigación clínica y tipos de padecimientos representativos del análisis bioético. Se comentan los aspectos bioéticos de los niños prematuros nacidos a las 24 semanas de gestación o menos, su impacto cuantitativo en la sociedad, así como el inicio y la evolución de la bioética en estos casos. Se describen cuatro casos paradigmáticos, dentro de los que destaca el caso Baby Doe, por el impacto que tuvo en el mundo al cambiar la concepción de la bioética. También se analiza el Protocolo Groningen de Holanda, que precisa cuándo retirar el soporte de vida a tres diferentes grupos de neonatos y las críticas al mismo. Posteriormente se describe la evolución e importancia que tienen los comités de bioética clínica (CBC) enfocados al neonato. Se relata, con un caso real, la metodología que el CBC realiza en el Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. Al final se concluye con un conjunto de reflexiones bioéticas relacionadas con su aplicación en el recién nacido.

We describe the application of bioethics with a practical approach in the newborn. We discuss ethical dilemmas such as in vitro fertilization, umbilical cord blood banks, neonatal screening, gene therapy, anencephalic children as organ donors, circumcision, the newborn as a subject of clinical research and types of representative bioethical diseases. Bioethical aspects are discussed in those children born preterm at 24 weeks of gestation or less and its quantitative impact on society as well as the initiation and evolution of bioethics in these children. We also describe four paradigmatic cases related to Baby Doe and the impact leading the world to change the design of bioethics. We discuss the Netherlands Groningen Protocol and we later describe the evolution and importance of clinical bioethics committees (CBC) focused on the newborn, which relates to an actual case methodology at the Children's Hospital of México Federico Gómez. We conclude with a set of bioethical reflections relating to its application in the newborn.

Unesco's proposed Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights - a bland compromise.

The latest (June 2005) draft of UNESCO's proposed Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights is a major disappointment. The committee of government 'experts' that produced it made sure that it would not introduce any new obligations for States, and so the document simply restates existing agreements and lists desirable goals without specifying how they can be achieved. This article focuses on the shortcomings of the document as it would apply to health care. These shortcomings are evident in the document's scope, aims and principles. The conclusion is that if UNESCO still thinks that such a declaration is needed, it should produce either an ethical document addressed to individuals and groups, which would be primarily educational in nature, or a legal document addressed to States, which should not have the word 'ethics' in its title.

A valuable up-to-date compendium of bioethical knowledge.

In this brief article, we examine the document entitled Universal Draft Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, published by UNESCO in June 2005. We examine it in terms of its content and its appropriate role in global bioethics movements in the future. We make clear our view on the declaration: the declaration, despite a variety of serious problems, remains a valuable bioethical document and can contribute in substantial ways to the happiness of people throughout the world.

Will international human rights subsume medical ethics? Intersections in the UNESCO Universal Bioethics Declaration.

The International Bioethics Committee (IBC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is currently drafting a Universal Bioethics Declaration ("the declaration"). The content and even the name of the declaration has yet to be finalized, but it is expected to range widely over human and non-human bioethics. It appears likely to include many articles directly related to medical ethics. The declaration may well evolve, like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, into a component of international customary law, or be the precursor to an International Convention on Bioethics. This article discusses whether this process will facilitate bioethics and, in particular, medical ethics, being subsumed by the normative system of international human rights.