The History and Development of Bioethics in Paraguay

Abstract

Bioethics first appeared in Paraguay during the late 1980s and the early 1990s within the context of medicine and research at the universities. Initially, Van Rensselaer Potter’s principles were the main focus of study without much consideration for the cultural values of Paraguay or Latin America. Its growth has been slow but continuous, with the formation of hospital bioethics committees, training groups, annual courses, and the establishment of the National Commission for the Development of Bioethics in 2004. From the beginning, the pioneering groups and individuals in bioethics have all been related in some way to the field of medicine, because this is where their common concerns have been derived. Among these prominent figures were Dr. Julia Rivarola, pediatrics; Dr. Eduardo Aquino, specializing in hospital management; Dr. Rosalino Pinto, gynecologist; Dr. Enrique de Mestral, geriatrist; nurses Olga Lopez de Benítez, Julia Carmen Morel de Festner, and Deolinda Maciel; Father Alberto Leon, and Dr. Marta Ascurra, among others.