Hermeneutics of the ethical problems perceived by primary health care professionals

Abstract

This article interpreted the ethical problems perceived by professionals of Primary Care Health Service in two qualitative researches, conducted in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre. The data of both researches were collected in eight meetings of focal discussion concerning ethical challenges of practice, with different professionals of the Family Health Strategy of Campo Bom (EFS) and of a primary health care service of Sao Leopoldo. The analysis was also conducted in the perspective of deep hermeneutics, in order to identify ethical problems, with particular attention to the context and discourse of professionals. Ethical problems understood as challenges cannot receive dichotomous answers. Once there are no immediate responses, deliberations concerning different paths and solutions are required, demanding creativity and decisions of extended range and time, with continuous evaluation. The analysis of the professionals’ discourses pointed out ethical problems related to demand, processes of work and to the health system.