Bioethics and care of women victims of sexual violence: a review of literature
Abstract
This article aims to perform a review of literature regarding care of women victims of sexual violence through a search in indexed journals in the Virtual Health Library and Scopus databases, including publications since 2003. Data collection was conducted in May 2013 using the keywords “violência sexual” [“sexual violence”], “assistência” [“assistance”], “serviços de saúde da mulher” [“women’s health services”], “aborto” [“abortion”] and “gravidez” [“pregnancy”]. Fifteen publications were retrieved, and the results were grouped into two thematic categories: bioethical issues related to women’s access to care services, and bioethical aspects present in treatment. The discussion was based in risk and protection bioethics, showing that the government must ensure universal access for the victims of sexual violence, and that health care professionals should be bioethically prepared for such care.