Brazilian Code of Medical Ethics from the perspective of principlist bioethics

Abstract

Social, technological and scientific advances induce changes in values and the need for periodically
reviewing professional codes of ethics. This article verifies the influence of principlist bioethics as an
ethical and normative model guiding the Brazilian Code of Medical Ethics. Document analysis was used
to evaluate two versions of the professional code: 2010 and 2018. There were similarities between both
versions, with a deontological predominance shaped by virtue and technical competence. The principle
of non-maleficence trumps beneficence (15% versus 6%); physician autonomy is more common than
that of the patient (17% versus 12%); and 15% of context units correspond to the principle of justice.
Deontological, virtuous and technical aspects, predominant in the Code of Medical Ethics, reveal the
need to adapt it to current medical work, emphasizing patient rights, justice, public health and increased
protection for research subjects.