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Mapping Bioethics in Latin America: History, Theoretical Models, and Scientific Output

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Abstract

Objective: To present a narrative review of the history of bioethics in Latin America and of scientific output in this interdisciplinary field. Methods: This was a mixed-methods study. Results: A total of 1458 records were retrieved, of which 1167 met the inclusion criteria. According to the Web of Science classification, the predominant topics of study were medical ethics (n= 488), social sciences and medicine (n= 354), and environmental and public health topics (n= 279). Four themes of bioethics output in the Latin American literature have emerged: (a) issues involving the beginning and end of life, (b) ethics in human research, (c) patient–provider relationships, and (d) ethics training for health professionals. Conclusion: Although bioethics is a growing interdisciplinary field in Latin America, its academic impact is still very low, and programmes are highly concentrated in large urban centres in a few countries. Challenges includes the regional and international impact of local scientific output.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioethics Division, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, 2350 Ramiro Barcellos, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil

    Lucas F. Garcia, Marcia S. Fernandes & Jose R. Goldim

  2. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 423 Guardian Drive, Blockley Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4884, USA

    Jonathan D. Moreno

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  1. Lucas F. Garcia
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  2. Marcia S. Fernandes
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  3. Jonathan D. Moreno
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  4. Jose R. Goldim
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Correspondence to Lucas F. Garcia.

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Garcia, L.F., Fernandes, M.S., Moreno, J.D. et al. Mapping Bioethics in Latin America: History, Theoretical Models, and Scientific Output. Bioethical Inquiry 16, 323–331 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-019-09903-7

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