Beneficiência e autonomia: questões bioéticas da sociedade secular

Abstract

Abstract: Having seen the clarificatory task of philosophy pointed out by Wittgenstein in his book ?Tractatus?, this thesis assumes the goal of clarifying the concepts involved in the discussion between beneficence and autonomy in secular society, as well as the implications of each one of these bioethical approaches. These elucidations arises the notion of the patient?s welfare, which includes effectively what should be the end (telos) of Medicine. This conception of welfare is fully compatible with the model of beneficence-in-trust, supported by Pellegrino & Thomasma and partially compatible with the autonomist approach represented by the principle of permission, enunciated by Engelhardt. As beneficence-in-trust is identified as the model that better contributes to the patient?s welfare, it has practical consequences, as the defense of comprehensive and intensive palliative care, as well as more humanized medical practices, and also a criticism concerning to the practices that aim to anticipate the patients? death, such as medical assisted suicide, since this practice is not supported by the telos of medicine approach and by the concept of welfare defended here.