We question the purpose of Medicine while breaching the established limitations of the medical act and altering, in a profound manner, our notions of the body and of disease. The crucial moments of our lives, our birth and death and our living are often under medical scrutiny that is either insufficient, in the developing world, or hotly debated, in the more affluent societies. Most individuals and institutions have a great deal of difficulty when trying to decide on these controversial issues. Often they are confronted with insufficient information, limited alternatives and a reduced ethical universe. Choices are frequently made in an impoverished dichotomic world.
Uncertainty is denied.
Real complexity is reduced to a process that includes only a correlation of variables. Abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering and human cloning are some of the topics that will be covered by this Series of Conferences. The Luso-American Development Foundation wishes to thank the Ordem dos M dicos for their assistance in promoting these Series of Conferences.