The paper begins with the question of the participation of human subjects in biomedical research, pointing a way from the first principle of the Belmont Report towards the concept of autonomy as expressed by informed consent. From the use of informed consent in experimental medicine, the paper then moves to the application of informed consent in clinical practice. Further, the paper outlines the cultural and philosophical context of the transformation of medicine into biomedicine from the perspective of human subject research, discussing the concept which has played the key role in the ethical framework of both experimental and clinical medicine in the Czech Republic. Finally the paper provides some critical notes on the concept of informed consent and its practice in Czech healthcare., Josef Kuře., and Obsahuje poznámky a bibliografii
In the conception of modern bioethics, the concept of autonomy plays a dominant role. Contemporary bioethical discourse in many cases glorifies an approach founded on this principle, and it seems that its role in moral conduct in applied bioethics is considered to be the key to salvation. This article attempts, to a certain extent, to relativise the dominant principle of autonomy, especially in medical ethics, even if it does not deny its indispensability. It points, however, to particular practical aspects which respect for the principle of autonomy, especially in the doctor-patient relation, can influence in a negative way, or can quite negate. As the basic antithesis to theories which found their priority on the axiom of respect to autonomy, the author then presents paternalistic and neo-paternalistic concepts in bioethics which find support, above all, in the principle of beneficence. The argument in this article necessarily demands an outline of the basic properties of paternalism and autonomy. For this reason the article especially focuses on models of the relationships between doctor and patient, that is on medical ethics in the narrow sense., Adam Doležal., and Obsahuje poznámky a bibliografii
The concept of personal identity has recently come to play an increasingly important role in bioethical discussion concerning the beginning and end of human life. This study does not aim to represent the whole range of applications of theories of personal identity to bioethics. It focuses only on the beginning of human life, namely on the question of the moral acceptability of abortion. The author begins by describing an argument rejecting the acceptability of abortions which has been advanced by P. Lee, and it is shown that the validity of this argument depends on a certain conception of personal identity. Then the author briefly defines the psychological approach to personal identity, and he points to its weaknesses. There follows a discussion of the theory of animalism which claims that our persistence in time does not comprise any psychological factors. The conclusion of the article deals with various theories of moral status and indicates the inadequacy of functional criteria in accounting for the moral point of view. The article finishes by stating that the moral status of human beings should be founded on the concept of human dignity. If the considerations in the study have been set out correctly then they justify the following conclusion: abortions are morally unacceptable., David Černý., and Obsahuje poznámky a bibliografii