Abstract

ARIAS ORTIZ, Nelson Enrique. MALNUTRITION AND BIOETHICS: REFLECTIONS ON A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM. rev.latinoam.bioet. [online]. 2012, vol.12, n.1, pp.28-35. ISSN 1657-4702.

This written intends to conduct an ethical view on malnutrition, attempting to upgrade the role of public health and health systems address the problem and highlighting the ethics of protection as an applied ethics proposal that should be taken into account when framing solutions. Malnutrition is a public health issue fraught with a strong ethical component. It is a disease as a condition of bodily suffering and limits the possibility of personal development, a fact that is recognized by those affected by medicine and society. If it is accepted that malnutrition is a disease of epidemic proportions is valid to argue that public health, medicine and health systems are obliged to develop and make available to all people who require therapeutic actions to address it. Years after two separate commitments made by almost all governments of the world, the current situation and trend of the problem in recent years show that, beyond words, progress against undernourishment are weak. Although the right not to be hungry has been recognized worldwide as a fundamental human right, is one of the most frequently violated. In the absence of a genuine desire by the international community, especially in rich countries, the language of law is useless to address the epidemic of malnutrition. Considering the inequalities is necessary to think ethically violated and vulnerable people, so as to create protection policies with bioethical principles including the provision of medical and health services to treat patients with malnutrition, which are linked to other social programs that empower people and communities to overcome malnutrition and reduce risk.

Keywords : Under nutrition; Bioethics; protection; public policy; food policy.

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