PORTUGUESE BIOETHICS ASSOCIATION

The Portuguese Bioethics Association was founded in July 2002 by a group of scholars from different Portuguese universities. Since the beginning the role of the Department of Bioethics and Medical Ethics has been instrumental in the creation of this association. The fundamental goal is the promotion of bioethics as a scientific and social endeavour. In particular it should be emphasised the leading role of the Portuguese Bioethics Association in the organization of the National Congress of Bioethics. For the time being this association has the headquarters at the Department of Bioethics and Medical Ethics.

The Portuguese Bioethics Association has the following structure:

Board

President
Rui Nunes

Members

Guilhermina Rego

Helena Melo

General Assembly:

President
Cristina Nunes

Member
Miguel Ricou

Expert Committee:

Anthropology
António Lima

Bioethics
Tristram Engelhardt Jr.

Biopolitics
Agni Vlavianos Arvanitis

Cardiology
José Pedro Nunes

Evidence-Based Medicine
Tristram Engelhardt Jr.

Family and Child
Vítor Feytor Pinto

Genetics
Natália Oliva Teles

Genetics
Fernando Regateiro

Geriatrics
João Barreto

Health Law
Paula Lobato Faria

Human Reproduction
Helena Figueiredo

Management
Elísio Brandão

Medical Assisted Procreation 
Alberto Barros

Medical Assisted Procreation 
João Silva Carvalho

Mental Health
Pacheco Palha

Nursing
José Carlos Amado Martins

Paediatrics

Palliative Care
Ferraz Gonçalves

Political Philosophy
Norman Daniels

Professional Ethics
Paulo Machado

Psychology
Eduardo Sá

Rehabilitation of Handicapped People
Adalberto Fernandes

Both entities are deeply committed in the teaching and investigation of bioethics and medical ethics. Also, a commitment does exist to develop other areas outside the biomedical field. Animal ethics, environmental ethics and intergenerational equality are good examples. In this way bioethics will go a step further in the direction previously proposed by Van Potter in the seventies: a global ethics, interdisciplinary concerned with all kinds of life, including human life. Respect for the environment as well as for animal rights must be, therefore, in this department agenda.