Origen y evolución de la Bioética en el Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction: The birth of bioethics as a discipline is relatively recent worldwide and even more so nationally. Bioethics, as a discipline, began in the 70s with Van Potter. It arose due to the need to respond and seek for solutions in response to conflicts related to research and technological advances. In Ecuador, its beginning was delayed by more than 20 years, as was the case in some Latin American countries. To know how it originated, it is necessary to go back to the past and identify the events that led to its origin, what it is based on, and how it has evolved to the present day. Literature Review: In 1988, Eduardo Estrella stood out as a pioneer in the promotion of bioethics as a discipline when he proposed the creation of the Medical Humanities Doctrine at the Faculty of Medicine of Central University. Similarly, with the support of the World Health Organization, Oswaldo Chavez suggested the creation of a forum to facilitate the development of various university programs on bioethics. Consequently, in 2001, the National Health Council established the Bioethics Commission to support the coordination of the National Health System, explaining that bioethics is a discipline aimed at improving the quality of life of human beings. This discipline has evolved up to the creation of the Health Research Ethics Committees and the Health Care Ethics Committee, which are in charge of guaranteeing respect for the rights of individuals in medical research. Conclusion: Although bioethics arrived two decades late in our country, it has shown a significant evolution. It has facilitated the creation of committees that supervise scientific studies and the integration of ethical principles in medical practice to promote and protect the rights of the population.