Current Challenges for Conscientious Objection by Physicians in Spain.

The College of Physicians of Madrid organized an open debate on conscientious objection (CO) in the medical profession on September 14, 2022. We summarize here the main arguments discussed. CO is defined as the right to raise exceptions to the performance of legal duties when they involve a contravention of personal convictions, whether religious, moral, or philosophical. It is not insubordination. Some authors contend that any decision by elected authorities should be uniformly followed by all citizens, physicians not being an exception. However, suppressing the ethical dimension of medical care may have an unacceptable cost with harm to physicians, their patients, and ultimately society. Health professionals are not blind instruments or mere "executors." The practice of medicine must follow the aim of the profession, namely the pursuit of the patient's good. Medical care must conform to medical ethics, which was first defined twenty-five centuries ago in the Hippocratic oath, and summarized with the triad of precepts "cure, relief, accompaniment." Since then and particularly in light of the Nuremberg trials, most medical declarations have highlighted the duty of defending human life and the importance of CO. In modern societies, there may be medical services that are not health care, even if they are legal. Then, which comes first law or ethics? Ultimately, CO is the tool that protects the freedom of the physician to refuse to perform actions that go against the values of medical ethics. With respect to the recent Spanish laws on abortion, euthanasia, and sex re-assignment of minors, if administrators want to know who is available for a health service that raises issues of conformity to medical ethics, requesting a list of volunteers is preferable to producing an objector list. Asking for registration of conscientious objectors goes against the right to privacy and is coercive, intrusive, and abusive.

The missing piece. The perceived marginalization of CSOs and HRGs in SOSTs' decision-making processes: a review.

This review represents the first contribution of a research diptych which stems from the activities implemented in the framework of the H2020 ARESIBO project (Augmented Reality Enriched Situation awareness for Border security). The general objective of ARESIBO is to improve the efficiency of border surveillance systems by providing the operational teams, as well as the tactical command and control level with accurate and comprehensive information related to border control considering different issues and perspectives. These perspectives also include the analysis of the level of engagement and the (possible) enhancement of citizens' involvement in the development and decision making related to border surveillance. The principal human rights and migration International Organisations (IOs), as well as EU institutions dealing with security and external borders (i.e., Frontex), agree and state that human rights groups (HRGs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) should be more involved and integrated in border surveillance. That stated, the main goal of this paper is to analyse this perceived marginalisation of CSOs and HRGs, as it emerges from several HRGs' and CSOs' statements on that regard in order to explore the reasons of this perceived marginalisation, as well as the elements that on the contrary seem to make this marginalisation less substantial. The results of this non-systematic review in the framework of ARESIBO led to the elaboration of an innovative participatory model that will be analysed in detail in the second article of this research diptych, entitled "Towards the engagement of citizens in SOSTs decision-making: participatory models setting a common ground for border surveillance and respect of fundamental rights. The case of ARESIBO H2020 project".

Mental health law: a comparison of compulsory hospital admission in Italy and the UK.

In Europe, the mental health law legal framework has had several changes throughout the years to achieve and develop new reforms, better mental health care, and protect the human rights of patients. The UK national data shows rising detention rates and the disproportionate use of the legal framework among people from black and minority ethnic groups. At the national level, compulsory admissions are lower in Italy; it also shows that it has increased in the last few years in both countries. The lack of ethnic national data, especially in Italy, limited the ability to understand compulsory admission, discrimination, and stigma in mental health. The present study aims to compare the legal framework of mental health law and compulsory hospital admission in Italy and the UK. A review of each country's latest amendments to mental health law and the number of compulsory hospital admissions was conducted to understand the impact of changes in mental health care.

Ethics and Morality.

Introduction: Ethics and morality are a branch of philosophy dealing with moral principles. Morals conceptualise the tenets of human character or behaviour as good or bad, right or wrong. However, morals are an individual and subjective concept which vary across individuals, cultures and time. Intentions, decisions and actions which may be considered moral by one individual or society may be considered amoral by another. The need for an organised system of guidelines, which can be universally applicable to all members of a society and against which all moral or immoral actions can be judged is the driving factor behind foundation of ethics. History of Ethics: A study of ancient Mesopotamian, Greek and Indian cultures over the millennia give a unique insight into ethics as a structural foundation of civilised society. The historical aspect of ethics and ethical systems helps guide present and future generations towards a harmonious and secure society across regional, organizational and global stages. Study of Ethics: A study of moral philosophy endeavours to classify ethical systems based on various schools of thought which act as the guiding principle on which an ethical system is structured. The major branches of ethical philosophy include descriptive ethics which studies the prevalent ethical and moral standards, normative ethics which evaluates the prevalent moral norms and their interpretation and application, meta-ethics which reevaluates the prevalent ethical systems and applied ethics dealing with ethical considerations specific to a particular field. Importance in Life and Clinical Orthopaedics: In this chapter, the authors have attempted to outline the importance of a structured ethical system in various walks of life, including personal, professional and social. A sound ethical system clearly outlines moral versus amoral behaviour, provides an objective means for judging the morality of decisions and actions, provides aids to teaching moral behaviour to new members of a society, defines behaviour of individuals professionally and personally, guides individuals in making decisions over issues of moral conflict or ambiguity and helps maintain structure and order in society so as to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number. The authors also discuss the essential role played by ethics in the life and practice of the modern-day Clinical Orthopaedician.

Distributed rights protection: The 2000 Hague Convention on the International Protection of Adults and the challenge of securing fundamental rights across borders.

The 2000 Hague Convention on the International Protection of Adults ('the 2000 Convention') entered into force on 1 January 2009, is cast as a private international law convention (i.e. one providing tools to minimise procedural, debates about cross-border matters affecting individuals). However, in little-known, and even less explored fashion, it has significant implications for the exercise of both administrative and legal powers by States over those in their territory in zones that are conventionally held close to the metaphorical heart of State power, for instance those experiencing mental ill health, or with impaired decision-making capacity. Even less explored are the consequences for the individuals at the centre of such situations, in particular as regards the protection of their fundamental rights. As we examine in this paper, focusing on both problems of abduction and of cross-border placement into circumstances of deprivation of liberty, such protection has to be distributed between jurisdictions; we suggest that this is a phenomenon which requires to be addressed in a transparent fashion, so that all concerned can be clear as to the implications for its effectiveness.

El derecho fundamental a eutanasia y su problemática constitucionalen España / El dret fonamental a eutanàsia i la seva problemàtica constitucionala Espanya / The fundamental right to euthanasia and its constitutional problems in Spain

Tras la regulación de la eutanasia emerge una problemática constitucional y bioética que revela las deficiencias, lagunas y conflictos jurídicos sin resolver por la LO 3/2021, de 24 de marzo (LORE). La desprotección de colectivos vulnerables, la huida de las garantías jurídicas convencionales y la lesividad de derechos fundamentales, entre otras razones, fundamentan la dimensión constitucional del derecho a morir. El control jurídico de la eutanasia se enfrenta en la actualidad a su construcción legal como derecho fundamental pese a la apariencia como derecho prestacional de “ayuda a morir”, en base a la conexión con el derecho a la vida, integridad física y moral, dignidad, libertad, intimidad (Exposición de Motivos LORE). Sin embargo, desde una perspectiva constitucional, resulta insatisfactoria la exclusión de menores y sujetos sin capacidad de su ámbito subjetivo y el riesgo de eludir la ponderación en conflicto con otros derechos al adoptar una jerarquía superior de hecho.(AU)

Després de la regulació de l'eutanàsia emergeix una problemàtica constitucional i bioètica que revela les deficiències, les llacunes i els conflictes jurídics sense resoldre per la LO 3/2021, de 24 de març (LORE). La desprotecció de col·lectius vulnerables, la fugida de les garanties jurídiques convencionals i la lesivitat de drets fonamentals, entre altres raons, fonamenten la dimensió constitucional del dret a morir. El control jurídic de l'eutanàsia s'enfronta actualment a la seva construcció legal com a dret fonamental malgrat l'aparença com a dret prestacional d'“ajuda a morir”, en base a la connexió amb el dret a la vida, integritat física i moral, dignitat , llibertat, intimitat (Exposició de Motius LORE). Tanmateix, des d'una perspectiva constitucional resulta insatisfactòria l'exclusió de menors i subjectes sense capacitat del seu àmbit subjectiu i el risc d'eludir la ponderació en conflicte amb altres drets en adoptar una jerarquia superior de fet.(AU)

After the legalization of euthanasia, a constitutional and bioethical problem emerges that reveals the deficiencies, gaps and legal conflicts unresolved by LO 3/2021, of March 24. The lack of protection of vulnerable groups, the flight from conventional legal guarantees and the harmfulness of fundamental rights, among other reasons, support the constitutional dimension of the right to die. The legal control of euthanasia currently faces its legal construction as a fundamental right despite the appearance as a right to "help to die", based on the connection with theright to life, physical and moral integrity, dignity, freedom, privacy (LORE Statement of Reasons). However, from a constitutional perspective, the exclusion of minors and subjects without capacity from their subjective sphere, and the risk of eluding theweighting in conflict with other rights by adopting a higher in fact hierarchy is unsatisfactory.(AU)

In the Shadow of COVID-19: The Well-Being and Rights of People Living with Dementia in Finland During the Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Exceptional circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic increase the risk for vulnerability among people living with dementia. OBJECTIVE: This article discusses the well-being and rights of people living with dementia in Finland during the pandemic and analyses the legal framework covering the restrictions of their rights during that period. METHODS: The empirical research comprises a survey of persons with dementia (n = 31) and their family members (n = 168). The participants completed a total of 13 survey items involving questions about their well-being during the pandemic, restrictions on freedom, access to services, information on pandemic regulations and guidelines as well as possible problems with authorities. The survey included both multiple choice and open-ended questions. RESULTS: According to people with dementia and their family members, by spring 2021, the pandemic had reduced meaningful activities available to people living with dementia in Finland and decreased the number of meetings between them and other people. Many reported a decline in their physical and/or mental well-being or greater difficulty or delays in accessing social and health services. Over a third of respondents found that the right to meet people was restricted among people with dementia, and almost half of the respondents took the view that their freedom of movement was restricted. There were also major shortcomings in terms of information on restrictions. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the importance of bearing in mind the negative effects that restrictions on mobility, meeting other people and meaningful activities can have on the well-being of people living with dementia. This should be considered, for example, when reforming legislation.

Os direitos fundamentais e a convivência familiar e comunitária de adolescentes em cumprimento de medida socioeducativa em meio aberto em teses e dissertações recentes no Brasil / Fundamental rights and the family and community coexistence of adolescents in compliance with socio-educational measure in open environment in recent theses and dissertations in Brazil / Derechos fundamentales y convivencia familiar y comunitaria de adolescentes en cumplimiento de medida socioeducativa en medio abierto en tesis y disertaciones recientes en Brasil

O presente artigo aborda a temática do direito à convivência familiar e comunitária de adolescentes em cumprimento de medida socioeducativa em meio aberto, enquanto um direito fundamental. Possui como objetivo verificar se as produções selecionadas abordam e/ou como abordam os direitos fundamentais e sua relação com o direito à convivência familiar e comunitária para os adolescentes em cumprimento de medidas socioeducativas em meio aberto. Realizou-se uma busca na Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações (BDTD) com as seguintes palavras-chave: ato infracional e direitos fundamentais. Foram selecionadas cinco dissertações que apresentavam em seu título referência às medidas socioeducativas em meio aberto e/ou aos direitos fundamentais. A coleta de dados pautou-se no corpo dos referidos textos, a partir dos quais se fez um levantamento quantitativo e análise qualitativa. Os resultados apontaram que todas as dissertações fizeram referência aos direitos fundamentais de crianças e adolescentes. Especificamente sobre o direito à convivência familiar e comunitária, apenas um não abordou a temática. Verificou-se nas produções as normas legais para a garantia dos direitos fundamentais e a responsabilidade compartilhada entre Estado, sociedade e família na proteção social desses sujeitos. Confirma-se a premissa que as medidas socioeducativas em meio aberto são mais efetivas ao não privarem o adolescente do seu convívio social e familiar. Além disso, o exercício da cidadania pelos adolescentes só acontece a partir da sua inserção no território e convívio. Portanto, é imprescindível a adoção de políticas públicas condizentes com a realidade social que assegurem condições para o rompimento com a trajetória infracional do adolescente.(AU)

This article addresses the issue of the right to family and community coexistence of adolescents in compliance with socio-educational measures in an open environment, as a fundamental right. Its objective is to verify whether the selected productions address and/or how they address fundamental rights and their relationship with the right to family and community life for adolescents in compliance with socio-educational measures in an open environment. A search was carried out in the Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD) with the following keywords: infraction act and fundamental rights. Five dissertations were selected that had in their title reference to socio-educational measures in an open environment and/or to fundamental rights. Data collection was based on the body of these texts, from which a quantitative survey and qualitative analysis were carried out. The results showed that all dissertations made reference to the fundamental rights of children and adolescents. Specifically on the right to family and community life, only one did not address the issue. It was verified in the productions the legal norms for the guarantee of the fundamental rights and the shared responsibility between State, society and family in the social protection of these subjects. It confirms the premise that socio-educational measures in an open environment are more effective when they do not deprive adolescents of their social and family life. In addition, the exercise of citizenship by adolescents only happens from their insertion in the territory and coexistence. Therefore, it is essential to adopt public policies consistent with the social reality that ensure conditions for breaking with the adolescent's infraction trajectory.(AU)

Este artículo aborda el tema del derecho a la vida familiar y comunitaria de los adolescentes que se encuentran cumpliendo una medida socioeducativa en un ambiente abierto, como derecho fundamental. Tiene como objetivo verificar si las producciones seleccionadas abordan y/o cómo abordan los derechos fundamentales y su relación con el derecho a la vida familiar y comunitaria de los adolescentes en cumplimiento de las medidas socioeducativas en un ambiente abierto. Se realizó una búsqueda en la Biblioteca Digital de Tesis y Disertaciones (BDTD) con las siguientes palabras clave: infracción y derechos fundamentales. Se seleccionaron cinco disertaciones que tuvieran en su título referencias a medidas socioeducativas en un ambiente abierto y/oa derechos fundamentales. La recolección de datos se basó en el cuerpo de estos textos, a partir de los cuales se realizó un levantamiento cuantitativo y un análisis cualitativo. Los resultados mostraron que todas las disertaciones hicieron referencia a los derechos fundamentales de los niños y adolescentes. Específicamente sobre el derecho a la vida familiar y comunitaria, solo uno no abordó el tema. Se verificó en las producciones las normas jurídicas para la garantía de los derechos fundamentales y la corresponsabilidad entre Estado, sociedad y familia en la protección social de estos sujetos. Se confirma la premisa de que las medidas socioeducativas en un ambiente abierto son más efectivas en la medida en que no privan a los adolescentes de su vida social y familiar. Además, el ejercicio de la ciudadanía por parte de los adolescentes sólo ocurre a partir de su inserción en el territorio y la convivencia. Por lo tanto, es fundamental adoptar políticas públicas acordes con la realidad social que aseguren condiciones para romper con la trayectoria delictiva del adolescente.(AU)

A judicialização da saúde e a atuação do Conselho Nacional de Justiça em tempos de covid-19 / The judicialization of health and the actions of the National Council of Justice in times of covid-19

O presente artigo teve como objetivo identificar a atuação do Conselho Nacional de Justiça no que tange à judicialização da saúde, assim como seu enfrentamento aos colapsos gerados a partir da pandemia de covid-19. Seguindo esse ideário, o problema de pesquisa foi identificar os desafios e as ações estratégicas do Conselho Nacional de Justiça diante da judicialização da saúde em tempos de covid-19. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida por meio de um estudo bibliográfico, seguindo o método hipotético-dedutivo. Como resultado, observou-se que o Conselho Nacional de Justiça vem apresentando diversas ações, culminando no avanço do diálogo interinstitucional para melhorias nos serviços prestados aos cidadãos brasileiros pelo Sistema Único de Saúde. Por fim, concluiu-se que o sistema de saúde vem enfrentando há muitos anos diversas dificuldades, e a chegada dessa pandemia, que se alastrou por todo o território nacional e, consequentemente, disseminou o caos sanitário e humanitário, agravou a situação, tornando mais nítida a ausência de estrutura e de políticas públicas capazes de reduzir os abismos e discrepâncias no setor da saúde.

This article aimed to identify the actions of the National Council of Justice regarding the judicialization of health, as well as its confrontation with the collapses generated from the covid-19 pandemic. Following this ideology, the research problem was to identify the challenges and strategic actions of the National Council of Justice in the face of the judicialization of health in times of covid-19. The research was developed through a bibliographical study, following the hypothetical-deductive method. As a result, it was observed that the National Council of Justice has been presenting several actions, culminating in the advancement of inter-institutional dialogue for improvements in the services provided to Brazilian citizens by the Unified Health System. Finally, it was concluded that the health system has been facing several difficulties for many years, and the arrival of this pandemic, which spread throughout the national territory and, consequently, spread sanitary and humanitarian chaos, aggravated the situation, making clearer the lack of structure and public policies capable of reducing the abysses and discrepancies in the health sector.

Neuroderechos: Ser o no ser. Una propuesta de adscripción sistemática en el ordenamiento jurídico español / Neurorights: To be or not to be. A proposal for systematic ascription to the Spanish legal system

Nuestro cerebro es lo que nos define. Estamos pasando de lasmuy desarrolladas tecnologías para la información y la comunicación (conocidas porsu acrónimo TIC) a las nuevas tecnologías sobre la información y para la comunicacióncon el cerebro. Estos avances neurocientíficos se traducen en notables mejoras parala salud de las personas, pero también en bienes de consumo. Dichas tecnologíascombinadas con la Inteligencia Artificial (IA), podrían usarse para descifrar y manipularprocesos mentales y para aumentar las capacidades cognitivas de las personasconectándolas a las interfaces cerebro-computadora, alterando lo que significaser humano. En lo que sigue, expondremos el estado actual de la neurociencia, suimpacto jurídico, el examen de las escasas iniciativas legislativas sobre el particularcon especial estudio de la propuesta de reforma constitucional chilena de 2020,concluyendo si se hace necesario realizar cambios o adaptar las reglas existentes a lassituaciones nuevas. Se trata en definitiva de modular dogmáticamente la respuesta jurídica ante el imparable avance de la neurociencia y cuestionarse si articular unanueva categoría de derechos como los denominados neuroderechos puede ser o no ser la mejor solución. (AU)

Our brain is what defines us. We are moving from highly developed informationand communication technologies (known by its acronym ICT) to new informationand communication technologies with the brain. These neuroscientific advancestranslate into remarkable improvements for people’s health, but also consumergoods. Such technologies, combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI), could beused to decipher and manipulate mental processes and to increase people’scognitive abilities by connecting them to brain-computer interfaces, alteringwhat it means to be human. In what follows, we will present the current state ofneuroscience, its legal impact, the examination of the few legislative initiativeson the subject with special study of the Chilean constitutional reform proposal of2020, concluding if it is necessary to make changes or adapt the existing rules tonew situations. Ultimately, it is about dogmatically modulating the legal responseto the unstoppable advance of neuroscience and questioning whether articulatinga new category of rights such as the so-called neuro-rights may or may not be the best solution. (AU)

Análise jurídica e bioética sobre o convite online para os testes de vacina contra a COVID-19 / Análisis jurídico y bioético de la convocatoria en línea para los ensayos de la vacuna contra la COVID-19 / Legal and bioethical analysis on the online invitation for COVID-19 vaccine trials / Anàlisi jurídica i bioètica de la convocatòria en línia per als assajosde la vacuna contra la COVID-19

A pandemia de COVID-19 entrou na vida das pessoas de forma avassaladora, trazendo mudanças nos hábitos, pensamentos e ações. O artigo faz uma análise jurídica e bioética do site “1 DAY SOONER”, o qual é representativo e está apto a fundamentar uma generalização para situações análogas frente a pandemia de COVID-19, envolvendo vários aspectos jurídicos, tais como direito à vida, à saúde e ao próprio corpo, liberdade, autonomia privada, solidariedade, renúncia a direitos, e alguns temas voltados também à Bioética, como beneficência e a não-maleficência em evento pandêmico, considerando-se a legislação brasileira aplicável ao tema. A pesquisa tem metodologia baseada em estudo de caso. Há muito por realizar no que tange ao interesse das pessoas em serem voluntárias em convocação/desafio para testes envolvendo humanos, expondo-se deliberadamente a infecções, relativizando e renunciando direitos.(AU)

The COVID-19 pandemic came in people's lives in a devastating way, bringing changes in habits, thoughts, and actions. The article performs a legal and bioethical analysis of the website “1 DAY SOONER”, which is representative of these platforms and able to support a generalization for analogous situations faced by the COVID-19 pandemic, involving legal aspects such as the right to life, health and one’s own body, freedom, private autonomy, solidarity, waiver of rights; and also some issues related to bioethics, such as beneficence and non-maleficence in a pandemic event, considering the Brazilian legislation applicable to the subject. The research has a methodology based on a case study. There is much to be done regarding people's interest in volunteering in a call for clinical trials involving humans, deliberately exposing themselves to infections, relativizing and waiving rights.(AU)

La pandemia de la COVID-19 entró en la vida de las personas de forma devastadora, trayendo cambios en los hábitos, pensamientos y acciones. El artículorealiza un análisis jurídico y bioético del sitio web "1 DAY SOONER", el cual es representativo de estas plataformas y puede fundamentar una generalización para situaciones análogas a las que se enfrenta la pandemia COVID-19, involucrando aspectos legalescomo el derecho a la vida, a la salud y el propio cuerpo, la libertad, la autonomía privada, la solidaridad, la renuncia a los derechos; y también algunos temas relacionados con la bioética, como la beneficencia y la no maleficencia en un evento pandémico, considerando la legislación brasileña aplicable al tema. La investigación tiene una metodología basada en un estudio de caso. Hay mucho por hacer en términos del interés de las personas en ser voluntarias en convocatorias para ensayos clínicos que involucren humanos, exponiéndose deliberadamente a infecciones, relativizando y renunciando a derechos.(AU)

La pandèmia de la COVID-19 va entrar en la vida de les persones de forma devastadora, portant canvis en els hàbits, pensaments i accions. L'article realitza una anàlisi jurídica i bioètica de la web "1 DAY SOONER", el qual és representatiu d'aquestes plataformes i pot fonamentar una generalització per a situacions anàlogues a les que s'enfronta la pandèmia COVID-19, involucrant aspectes legals com el dret a la vida, a la salut i el propi cos, la llibertat, l'autonomia privada, la solidaritat, la renúncia als drets; i també alguns temes relacionats amb la bioètica, com la beneficència i la no maleficència en un esdeveniment pandèmic, considerant la legislació brasilera aplicable al tema. La recerca té una metodologia basada en un estudi de cas. Hi ha molt per fer en termes de l'interès de les persones a ser voluntàries en convocatòries per a assajos clínics que involucrin humans, exposant-se deliberadament a infeccions, relativitzant i renunciant a drets.

La proporcionalidad del uso del pasaporte COVID para permitir la apertura del interior de establecimientos abiertos al público: un breve comentario a la sentencia de 14 de septiembre de 2021 del Tribunal Supremo / The proportionality of the use of the COVID passport to allow the opening of the interior of establishments open to the public: a brief commentary on the judgment of 14 September 2021 of the Spanish Supreme Court

Recientemente, la Sala de lo Contencioso-administrativo del Tribunal Supremo se ha pronunciado sobre la obligatoriedad de la exhibición del pasaporte COVID como requisito de acceso a determinados establecimientos abiertos al público. Esta medida, postulada por distintas Administraciones públicas para controlar la expansión del virus, ha sido cuestionada por varios Tribunales Superiores de Justicia al entender que afectaba a derechos fundamentales. Si bien en las distintas decisiones se aduce que la limitación de los bienes jurídicos en juego no es de especial intensidad, los tribunales han entendido que las autoridades sanitarias han fallado en la justificación de la necesidad e idoneidad de la medida. De esta forma, Tribunales Superiores de Justicia como el de Canarias, Cantabria, Galicia y Andalucía, han denegado la ratificación de las medidas limitativas de derechos fundamentales que comportaban el uso del pasaporte Covid-19, habiendo sido la decisión este último tribunal ratificada por el Tribunal Supremo. En este nuevo pronunciamiento el Tribunal Supremo adopta una postura novedosa, casando el auto del Tribunal Superior de Justicia, en este caso el de Galicia y ratificando la decisión de la administración gallega. El objetivo de mi análisis será determinar qué circunstancias han hecho al Alto Tribunal apartarse del precedente, marcando una serie de criterios que afectaran a la forma que los Tribunales Superiores de Justicia se enfrenten a la ratificación de esta medida sanitaria.(AU)

Recently, the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court has ruled on the mandatory exhibition of the COVID passport as a requirement for access to certain establishments open to the public. This measure, postulated by different public administrations to control the spread of the virus, has been questioned by several Superior Courts of Justice on the understanding that it affected fundamental rights. Although the various decisions argue that the limitation of the legal assets at stake is not of particular intensity, the courts have understood that the health authorities have failed to justify the necessity and suitability of the measure. In this way, Superior Courts of justice such as the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Galicia and Andalusia, have denied the ratification of the measures limiting fundamental rights that entailed the use of the COVID passport, having been the decision of the Andalusia court ratified by the Supreme Court. In this new pronouncement the Supreme Court adopts a novel position, marrying the order of the Superior Court of Justice, in this case that of Galicia and ratifying the decision of the Galician administration. The aim of my analysis will be to determine what circumstances have caused the High Court to depart from the precedent, marking a series of criteria that will affect the way that the Superior Courts of Justice face the ratification of this sanitary measure.(AU)

The EU's Hospitality and Welcome Culture: Conceiving the "No Human Being Is Illegal" Principle in the EU Fundamental Freedoms and Migration Governance.

This article aims to highlight the theoretical and philosophical debate on hospitality underlining the normative elements of framing migrants and refugees as individual agents in the light of hospitality theory and migration governance. It argued the critiques of the neo-Kantian hospitality approach and the EU welcome culture with regard to refugees in the EU from a philosophical perspective. The "No human being is illegal" motto is proposed to be conceived as a principle of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The cosmopolitan right to visit and the universal right to reside were discussed in the context of human rights and co-responsibility. Linking the hospitality approach with migration governance enables the reconstruction of reception policies and practices, diversification of non-state actors that engage in migration governance mechanism, and polarization of political initiatives (e.g., politics of allocation and dispersal, readmission negotiations, convergence/divergence of priorities and strategic interests). The research findings highlight that the EU adopted a neo-Kantian hospitality approach that combines both "co-responsibility" and "vertical/heterarchical relations." The EU's "New Pact on Migration and Asylum" was considered proof of how the EU follows neo-Kantian hospitality that is manifested in dualism and contradictory approach. The study presents a typology that splits co-responsibility into individual/institutional actions and human rights/migration governance.

Federalismo fiscal, dignidade da pessoa humana e o financiamento da saúde pública no Litoral Sul da Bahia / Fiscal federalism, dignity of the human person and public health financing at the Southern Coast of Bahia

Resumo Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar a realidade do financiamento da saúde pública, com especial atenção à situação dos municípios do território de identidade Litoral Sul da Bahia, à luz da disciplina constitucional sobre o direito à saúde. Para tanto, será exposta a organização político-administrativa do Estado brasileiro, a ser entendida como meio pelo qual se deve garantir a efetividade dos direitos fundamentais, sempre pautada pelo princípio da dignidade humana. Toda a análise da realidade do financiamento público da saúde será realizada com base em dados empíricos de arrecadação e despesa, sobretudo, referentes aos municípios que integram o território de identidade Litoral Sul da Bahia.

Abstract This study analyzes the reality of public health financing, focusing on the municipalities of southern Bahia, based on the right to health. To do so, it presents the political and administrative organization of the Brazilian State, understood as a tool for ensuring the effectiveness of fundamental rights, always in line with the principle of human dignity. All the analysis were conducted using empirical data on fund raising and expenditure, mainly referring to the municipalities from the Southern Coast of Bahia.

Mandatory Vaccination during the Period of a Pandemic: Legal and Ethical Considerations in Europe.

The present study explores the pressing matter of mandatory vaccination in Europe from an ethical-constitutional perspective. To start with, it considers the bases of the concerns that have been raised to date, as well as those of the documented opposition. This is followed by an analysis of the applicable European legal framework and a discussion on mandatory vaccination in the workplace, education and the leisure industry, before outlining the conclusions reached. The position taken by this paper is that as long as certain conditions are met, mandatory vaccination does not violate fundamental rights. On the contrary, provided that the principle of proportionality is satisfied, mandatory vaccination as a form of medical intervention constitutes a manifestation of the obligation on the part of the state to protect the fundamental rights to life and health.

The new Japanese regulation on human/non-human chimeras: should we worry?

In March 2019 Japan modified its norms regarding research with human/non-human chimeras. The amended rules allow the creation of chimeras with human brain cells, and the subsequent transfer of the resulting creature to an uterus, where it can develop for more than 14 days, eventually until term. At this moment, the real consequences of this new regulation in actual research are still uncertain. However, many concerning issues have already been identified. This paper will start by addressing traditional topics involving this practice: the use of non-human animals in research, the use of human stem cells in scientific experimentation and the creation of human/non-human chimeras. Subsequently, it will analyze the new concerning issues brought on by the 2019 amendment: the use of human brain cells, the transfer of the chimera to an uterus and its development for more than 14 days, and the possibility of using animals which present close similarities with humans. In the end, the paper will conclude that in spite of the legal and ethical hazards that this new regulation might carry, it should be allowed under strict scrutiny.

The Disposal of COVID-19 Dead Bodies: Impact of Sri Lanka's Response on Fundamental Rights.

In early 2020, the Government of Sri Lanka decided that all bodies of individuals who had (or were suspected to have) died of COVID-19 should be disposed of by cremation alone. Although this decision appears to be neutral and does not give rise to de jure discrimination, as a matter of fact, it has significantly impacted the religious rights of the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. This is because they firmly believe in the need to bury the dead in a dignified and decent manner-cremation being regarded as a repugnant practice amounting to a desecration of the human body. As such, the Sri Lankan Government's decision to adopt a cremation-only policy interfered with the right of all Sri Lankan Muslims to manifest their religion or belief as guaranteed by the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka. Despite there being no scientific evidence to suggest that the burial of COVID-19 victims could give rise to contamination of the surroundings and thereby cause the spread of the virus, the Government of Sri Lanka continued with the policy for almost a whole year. Thereafter, due to international pressure, the Sri Lankan Government decided to allow burials but in a very restrictive manner. The objective of this article is to consider the extent to which the aforementioned decisions of the Sri Lankan Government are consistent with the fundamental rights framework of the country's Constitution.

Covid-19 and the Brazilian Reality: The Role of Favelas in Combating the Pandemic.

The consequences of coronavirus in favelas in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) point to social inequality as a structuring factor in Brazilian society. The contagion spread and multiple death cases reveal the multiplicity of existence ways that cohabit the urban context, indicating that in many of these scenarios, access to decent housing, drinking water, and minimum income is not a reality and recommendations from international health agencies are challenging to implement. Against government technopolitics that drive different forms of death to the poorest, black communities, and slum dwellers, territorial insurgencies indicate other paths for the construction of a dignified life and access to fundamental rights, targeted solidarity practices, territorial political organization and the construction of specific public policies to deal with the effects of the virus which takes into account the particularities and distinct realities of the territory. The experiences of community organization around Crisis Offices in the favelas, led by social organizations and supporting institutions, have guaranteed (i) food and personal hygiene items distribution, (ii) sanitization of alleys, (iii) dissemination of information on the virus, and (iv) political articulation for disputes in defense of life preservation in the favelas, in opposition of genocidal processes carried out by the state power. Such local spaces represent practices of resistance to the death policies undertaken by the state policies, which most are not configured as spaces for collective construction and disregard inequalities and different needs in these territories. That way, community associations are presented as an inflection point, a deviation from the normal course of modulated subjectivities by the social principles and practices of neoliberalism, with the indication that the most efficient way to deal with social crises is through the strengthening of the collective and the popular organizations.

An ethical evaluation of the legal status of foetuses and embryos under Chinese law.

Under Chinese law, the juridical status of the embryo and the foetus is unclear, mainly because the existing legislation can be subject to diverse interpretations due to its ambiguous language. Lack of clarity with the law has led to different understandings amongst Chinese legal scholars. However, although there has been no consensus, there has been a clear tendency to deprive embryos and foetuses of legal status or personhood, thereby excluding them from entitlement to fundamental rights, an understanding reinforced by the Confucian view of the beginning of life. It is expected that in the near future the Chinese courts will face issues involving embryos and foetuses more often, such as disputes over in vitro embryos. The lack of legal precedent could result in contradictory resolutions, therefore, the law should clarify the legal status of embryos and foetuses and accord to prenatal life special respect and treatment.

El principio de inmediatez de la acción de tutela: ¿Una barrera para la protección judicial de los derechos fundamentales?

Según la Constitución Política la acción de tutela se puede interponer en todo momento, es decir no tiene caducidad. Sin embargo, para poder garantizar la inmediatez que la caracteriza, la Corte Constitucional ha señalado que el juez que resuelve la tutela debe evaluar en cada caso, si entre el hecho que dio lugar a la presunta violación de derechos fundamentales y la interposición de la acción de tutela media un plazo razonable. El artículo tiene como objetivo analizar de qué forma el principio de inmediatez de la acción de tutela puede constituir una barrera para la protección de los derechos fundamentales en sede judicial. Para ello, se analizan las subreglas establecidas por la jurisprudencia constitucional para valorar la inmediatez en casos concretos, así como para excepcionar su aplicación por algunas causas que lo justifican. Tales subreglas son valoradas a la luz de las consideraciones frente a la inmediatez que, como jueces de tutela, tienen el Consejo de Estado, la Corte Suprema de Justicia y el Consejo Superior de la Judicatura. Los resultados sugieren que, en efecto, el principio de inmediatez sigue siendo una razón recurrente para negar el amparo, aun en contravía de la jurisprudencia constitucional.

According to the Constitution writ of protection can be used at any time so it has no expiration date. However in order to guarantee the immediacy, the Constitutional Court has ruled that the judge, who resolves the writ of protection, must assess in each case if there is a reasonable time between the event that has brought about violation of fundamental rights and the use of the writ of protection. The paper aims to analyze how the principle of immediacy of writ of protection can be a barrier to the enforcement of fundamental rights in court. For this reason, I analyze the sub-rules established by the Constitutional Court regarding to study the immediacy in specific cases and the application of exceptions when there are reasons that justify it. The sub-rules are valued in the light of the considerations regarding the immediacy that, as judges, have the Council of State, the Supreme Court of Justice and the Superior Council of the Judicature. The results suggest that, in effect, the principle of immediacy remains a recurring reason for denying protection, even in contravention of constitutional jurisprudence.

De acordo com a Constituição da ação tutela, pode ser apresentado a qualquer momento, ou seja, não tem data de validade. No entanto, a fim de garantir o imediatismo que o caracteriza, o Tribunal Constitucional decidiu que o juiz resolve a tutela deve avaliar em cada caso se entre o evento que deu origem à suposta violação dos direitos fundamentais e da apresentação do ação média tutela dentro de um prazo razoável. O artigo tem como objetivo analisar como o princípio da imediação de tutela pode ser uma barreira para a protecção dos direitos fundamentais no tribunal. Para fazer isso, sub-regras estabelecidas pela jurisprudência constitucional para avaliar a urgência em casos específicos são analisados e sua aplicação para fazer uma exceção para algumas causas que o justifiquem. Tais sub-regras são avaliadas à luz das considerações contra o imediatismo que, como juízes tutelares, tem o Conselho de Estado, o Supremo Tribunal e do Conselho Superior da Magistratura Judicial. Os resultados sugerem que, de fato, o princípio da imediação continua a ser um recorrente negar amparo, mesmo contra a razão jurisprudência constitucional.