BIOETHICS AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTS

Abstract

Currently society recognizes as a fact that knowledge of bioethically relevant international and national documentation is fundamental in daily practice, as much in terms of routine work as it is in investigation. In this article we present a short list of some of the national and international resources at our disposal, with contents that are more general or more speciÞ c concerning ethics and/or principles of ethics which support the studies or research projects – and whose depth goes well beyond simple codes of professional ethics and which reß ect profound ethical thought concerning social themes and society in general. Thus two lists are presented, of Portuguese legislation and international documentation, very directly relating to informed consent, conÞ dentiality and human dignity, among others, which may be consulted and are recommended to professionals in general and young investigators in particular.