Article (Mirabilia Medicinæ)
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The Metaphysical Foundations of Human Cloning
James A. MARCUM
Original title: Os Fundamentos Metafísicos da Clonagem Humana
Published in
Keywords: Holism – Human cloning – Methodological reductionism – Ontological reductionism – Reproductive technology.
The presuppositions upon which human reproductive cloning technology relies are examined, in order to address the debate over human uniqueness and identity, as well as dignity and flourishing. To that end, the presupposition of reductionism that animates the modern biomedical sciences is initially explored. As methodological reductionism, reductionism is important for conducting scientific research; but as ontological reductionism, it is often insufficient for interpreting the cultural or social meaning of scientific data. The distinction between methodological and ontological reductionism is necessary to address the debate surrounding reproductive cloning technology and human nature and flourishing. Scientists and others who depend upon empirical research would be better served by shifting from ontological reductionism to holism, when interpreting scientific data on human cloning in terms of their social meaning and impact on public policy.
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Bioethics and Medical Humanities – An approach from Edmund Pellegrino
Manuel Jorge Santos da Silva CRUZ
Original title: Bioética e Humanidades Médicas – Uma abordagem a partir de Edmund Pellegrino
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Keywords: Bioethics – Edmund Pellegrino – Medical Humanities – Medical Education..
The author emphasizes the crucial role of the humanities in medical practice and medical education, based on the work of the great bioethicist Edmund Pellegrino. In the wake of Pellegrino the author believes medicine is the discipline best positioned to make the link between the sciences and the humanities, which from the end of the 17th century followed different paths. Some positive and negative consequences of the separation between the scientific and humanistic cultures are presented as well as proposals for a closer relationship between both cultures in healthcare.
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The unity of opposites: the theory YĪN YÁNG 陰陽 in the book of Chinese medicine HUÁNG DÌ NÈI JĪNG 黃帝內經
Renata Palandri Sigolo SELL, Luis Fernando Bernardi JUNQUEIRA
Original title: A união dos opostos: a teoria YĪN YÁNG 陰陽 no livro de medicina chinesa HUÁNG DÌ NÈI JĪNG 黃帝內經
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Keywords: Huang Di Nei Jing – Health History – History of Ancient China..
The HUÁNG DÌ NÈI JĪNG 黃帝內經 is considered one of the most important and valuable books about Chinese medicine. Available evidence suggests that at the basis of HUÁNG DÌ NÈI JĪNG is a layer of texts written during the end of the Warring States period (475-221 B.C), through Qin dynasty (221-206 B.C) and beginning of Western Han dynasty (206 B.C – 9 A.C). Sharing world views with several ancient Chinese philosophical schools, the HUÁNG DÌ NÈI JĪNG understand human beings and nature as inseparable entities in incessant mutation, impermanence, interdependence and relations. This cosmology was explained by, specially, two systematic correspondence theories: Five Movements WǓ XÍNG五行 and YĪN YÁNG 陰陽. According to this last one, all universe aspects, including the human body itself, could be understood as a polarity denominate YĪN YÁNG: the reality as a dynamic unity of opposites. This theory, besides be present in several aspects of ancient Chinese culture like politics, astrology, history and philosophy, since the compilation of HUÁNG DÌ NÈI JĪNG also became one of the main keys of systematization, interpretation and understanding of Chinese medicine in general and human beings in particular.
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Some thoughts about Medicine and Literature (Which Physicians We Want? Jorge Cruz)
Ana Paula COUTINHO
Original title: Algumas reflexões em torno de Medicina e Literatura (Que médicos queremos? de Jorge Cruz)
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Presentation of Jorge Cruz’s Book “Which Doctors Do We Want?”
José Henrique Silveira de BRITO
Original title: Apresentação do livro de Jorge Cruz “Que médicos queremos?”
Published in
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Editorial: II UNESC Seminar of Medical Humanities
ANGOTTI NETO, Hélio
Original title: Editorial: II Seminário UNESC de Humanidades Médicas
Published in
Keywords: Bioethics, Healthcare, Humanization, Medical Humanities, UNESC.
The third edition of Mirabilia Medicinae is dedicated to publish the works that were presented in the II UNESC Seminar of Medical Humanities (Colatina, Espírito Santo - Brazil). It also brings special articles about the humanization of healthcare and medical education, and a book review about Medicine and ideological threats.
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Research integrity and the impact of conflicts of interests on society: An Analysis in the Light of the Theory of Recognition of Axel Honneth
Márcia Cássia CASSIMIRO, Agemir BAVARESCO, André Marcelo M. SOARES
Original title: Integridade científica e o impacto dos conflitos de interesses na sociedade: Uma Análise à Luz da Teoria do Reconhecimento de Axel Honneth
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Keywords: Axel Honneth, Conflict of interest (COI), Research integrity, Theory of Recognition.
Conflicts of interest (COI) is a set of conditions in which professional judgment concerning a primary interest tends to be unduly influenced by a secondary interest. In biomedical research, for example, secondary interests may affect research participants and bias research results. From a Honnethian perspective, struggles for recognition of COIs can be seen as a moral force driving social development with a focus on human dignity. Accordingly, Vasconcelos et al. have shown that in the last decades, the dialogue between science and society has reflected concerns over COIs and management of these conflicts in the realm of scientific publications. In this context, research supported by the pharmaceutical industry, for example, is a case in point. Although the extent to which this funding influences the behavior of researchers is not fully understood, there has been an increase in research misconduct in the last decades, and COIs play a role in many cases. As part of an ongoing doctoral project, this contribution makes a case that the training of Brazilian researchers in the health sciences and their understanding of science and society need to be revisited. We will address the process of construction of scientific knowledge and the ethical dilemmas encountered by these researchers when it comes to COIs in their professional and academic activities. Using elements of Honnethian philosophy, we aim to identify whether notions of COIs among this group arise from a mistaken understanding of public management of the research sector, resulting in social disrespect, reifying individuals in the process of participation in social control of the resources involved in research.
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The Use of Eponyms in Medical Practice
Fleury Marinho da SILVA, Rodolfo Costa SYLVESTRE, José Guilherme Pinheiro PIRES
Original title: O Uso de Epônimos na Prática Médica
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Keywords: Eponyms, Medical Education, Medical Humanities, Terminology.
An eponym is a medical term derived from a person’s name, either real or fictitious. Several authors that stand against the use of eponyms in Biology or Medicine argue that the practice is anti-didactic because it is impossible to memorize over ten thousand existing eponyms, the same eponym may designate two different biomedical entities, or the eponyms can render tribute to infamous physicians. However, there are authors who support their use and describe that its practice is a medical art, reflecting the medical history over the years. For them, the use of eponyms is a correct attitude of recognition and a deserved tribute to those who contributed with their observation and research for developing the medical sciences.
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Beliefs, Values and Social Representations of Normal Birth
Luciano Antonio RODRIGUES, Bruno Alves da SILVA, Priscila Margarete Araújo Beserra VALENTIM
Original title: Crenças, Valores e Representações Sociais do Parto Normal
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Keywords: Childbirth Assistance, Normal Birth, Social representation, Women's Health.
Abstract: Introduction: Giving birth is a special moment in the women universe, since it brings new feelings in the very essence of being a woman: the act of being a mother is central. Pregnancy and delivery links men’s reproduction aspects as well as women’s, involving their families and the community. Everyone who participates in this experience are enriched by hope and the joy it brings, bringing up feelings that defines a human being. Objective: to learn how vaginal birth seems like to women having their first child, how it affects social characteristics as well as beliefs and values. Methodology: this is a short-term exploratory study with 15 first child mothers regarding qualitative and describing views. The study was done in a maternity hospital in the city of Colatina, Espírito Santo, Brazil. The data was collected through recorded interviews based on a semi-structured script, its variables related to social and demographic differences, approaching their experiences towards vaginal birth. Data was analyzed by the Lerass’ software IRaMuTeQ version 0.6 Apha 3, in which it was possible to achieve content about the interviews, word cloud creation and similarities analysis. Conclusion: Vaginal birth is socially associated with pain, related not only to suffering but also to the idea of overcoming. Another subject to consider is the ignorance towards the procedure. That generates hopes, uncertainties, fears and anxiety. One of the great challenges for shifting the paradigm of vaginal birth is the deconstruction of negative feelings and beliefs, bringing back women’s independency and the joy of giving birth. To give birth is an act that should be one of the greatest experiences of women inside her reality and accordingly to her unique role in what is one of the most important part in the great universe that is human birth.
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Humanizing the Biomedical Model, and the Quality-of-Care Crisis
James A. MARCUM
Original title: Humanização do Modelo Biomédico e a Crise na Qualidade do Cuidado com a Saúde
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Keywords: Biomedical Model, Humanistic Medicine, Quality-of-Care Crisis.
In this paper, I explore the philosophical issues concerning the efforts of philosophers and clinicians to humanize the biomedical model of medical knowledge and practice to address the quality-of-care crisis. To that end, I discuss the metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical dimensions of the biomedical model and its humanization. I begin with metaphysics, exploring the presuppositions upon which modern medical knowledge and practice are founded; for presuppositions determine the entities that compose the medical worldview. Next, I examine the epistemological issues that face the humanization of the biomedical model, particularly those driven by methodological procedures undertaken by epistemic agents to constitute medical knowledge and practice. Finally, I investigate the ethical implications of the biomedical model and of its humanization, especially in terms of the physician-patient relationship. In a concluding section, I discuss the issues surrounding the question of the humanization of the biomedical model in terms of the quality-of-care crisis.
