https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/issue/feed 2026-03-06T15:33:46+00:00 Alvaro Quezada alquezad@uchile.cl Open Journal Systems <p>Acta Bioethica is a biannual publication by the Interdisciplinary Center for Studies in Bioethics of the University of Chile (ISSN 0717-5906, press edition, y 1726-569-X, electronic edition), which publishes in three languages: Spanish, English and Portuguese.</p> <p>Indexed in Science Citation Index (SCI), Scopus, Lilacs, SciELO y Latindex, and in database from several Institutions; it constitutes a pluralistic source of perspectives and an important tribune which accepts the contributions of authors compromised with the interdisciplinary study of ethical determinants and consequences of techno scientific research.</p> <p>The journal edits a main topic per issue, with articles asked by an invited editor (specialist in the topic chosen), and it also includes a section of articles not solicited of various nature (interfaces), reviews of recent bioethical publications and other significant documents for the inter discipline. It also counts with an International Advisory Committee and a system of arbitration of manuscripts based on peer review.</p> <p>The journal is published on HTML and PDF format in SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online) and in PDF in the web site for journals of the University of Chile.</p> https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83392 2026-03-06T06:54:15+00:00 José Dimas D’Avila Maciel Monteiro jose.monteiro@ifc.edu.br Elcio Luiz Bonamigo elcio.bonamigo@unoesc.edu.br Rui Nunes ruinunes@med.up.pt

The question “how to lead our lives?” is a question about which life to live and is at the center of Aristotle’s ethical investigations in Nicomachean Ethics. Such a question seems not to get old, particularly when we express, in advance, decisions about future medical care to consent to or refuse, in advance directives (ADs), when we are unable to decide. The purpose of this investigation is to philosophically approach ADs from the question “how to lead our lives?”, admitting three possible approaches to aspects of Aristotle's ethical investigation: 1st) emotions and ADs; 2nd) deliberation, deliberate choice, phronesis and ADs; 3rd) “How to lead our lives?” and ADs. It is concluded that a) the purpose of human life, according to Aristotle, is not simply to live, but to live humanly; b) the answer to the question “how to lead our lives?”, considering the categories of happiness (eudaimonia), emotions, virtues, practical wisdom (phronesis), deliberation, deliberate choice, and action, also involves the answer to the question about death and dying; c) Aristotle's ethical investigation may be an alternative, although limited, to address ADs without the necessary appeal to moral rules. Keywords: Bioethics, advance directives, personal autonomy, deliberation

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 José Dimas D’Avila Maciel Monteiro, Elcio Luiz Bonamigo, Rui Nunes https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83393 2026-03-06T07:03:58+00:00 Abdullah Yıldız abdyildiz@ankara.edu.tr Ayşe Kurtoğlu akurtoglu@ankara.edu.tr

This paper examines the challenges of qualitative research in medical contexts through our position as qualitative researchers, bioethicists, and ethics committee members in Turkey. We explore how biomedical paradigm dominance shapes qualitative research evaluation in medical settings, arguing that qualitative understanding is essential to medical knowledge production, not merely a methodological choice. Through experiential insights, we identify critical issues: insufficient methodological awareness among researchers, limited recognition of qualitative paradigms by ethics committees, and persistent epistemic injustice in evaluation processes, even within traditionally receptive fields. These challenges arise from deeper philosophical tensions rather than procedural difficulties. We propose reflexivity as both a methodological requirement and and ethical virtue to address qualitative research marginalization in medicine. Our analysis contributes to discussions about the relationship between ethics and science in qualitative research while offering practical insights for improving evaluation and support of qualitative methodologies in medical contexts.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Abdullah Yıldız, Ayşe Kurtoğlu https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83394 2026-03-06T07:18:40+00:00 Alejandro Vega-Muñoz carolina.valdebenito@ucentral.cl Carolina Valdebenito Herrera carolina.valdebenito@ucentral.cl Osvaldo Blanco carolina.valdebenito@ucentral.cl Nicolás Contreras Barraza carolina.valdebenito@ucentral.cl

This manuscript examines the growing complexity of cyberaddiction, a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly socially normalized but still insufficiently researched and regulated. Cyberaddiction shares traits with other forms of dependency, arising from experiences of immediate pleasure that can become a necessity. From a multidisciplinary perspective, the text analyzes historical, familial, neurobiological, and sociotechnical factors that contribute to its development, highlighting the role of digital pleasure and technological architectures designed to capture and retain the user's attention. It also addresses the ethical dilemmas associated with its conceptualization, questioning whether cyberaddiction constitutes an autonomous disorder or a manifestation of broader transformations in the human relationship with technology. The manuscript delves into tensions related to autonomy, vulnerability, corporate responsibility, and privacy, proposing an approach that recognizes the moral complexity of the contemporary digital ecosystem. Overall, the work brings together contributions from neuroscience, psychology, bioethics, and socio-technical studies to offer an integrated understanding of the phenomenon. It raises the need to balance the benefits of intensive use of technologies with the associated risks, promoting practices that favor healthy, critical, and ethically responsible use. In summary, cyber addiction is positioned as an emerging challenge of the digital age.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Alejandro Vega-Muñoz, Carolina Valdebenito Herrera, Osvaldo Blanco, Nicolás Contreras Barraza https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83395 2026-03-06T07:28:47+00:00 Adel Ayed Alshammari drshammary@uhb.edu.sa

This paper explores the societal risks that may arise from the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into defense innovations and examines how the principle of responsibility can be achieved in this context. Using a qualitative descriptive–analytical approach grounded in international reports and prior studies, the paper identifies four critical domains of societal risk: threats to human life, terrorist misuse, cyber and electronic warfare, and the lack of accountability for actions committed by autonomous or semi-autonomous systems. To address these challenges, a tri-level framework of responsibility is proposed —international, institutional, and socio-cultural— linking global ethical norms with local governance practices and moral values. The study argues that responsible innovation in AI-driven defense technologies requires ethical governance that ensures accountability, human oversight, and societal legitimacy, thereby balancing security imperatives with public trust.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Adel Ayed Alshammari https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83396 2026-03-06T07:37:17+00:00 Raynier Hernández rhernandeza@udla.cl Beatriz Revuelta beatriz.revuelta@ucentral.cl

The relationship of bioethics with disability and its understanding beyond dominant biomedical knowledge has been controversial. Debates about bioethics are often disturbing for people with disabilities, and for disability rights activists, given the oppressive assumptions associated with considering disability only limited to a definition of an illness, which must be cured. This article proposes some key epistemological dimensions for informed bioethics of disability. For this purpose, it initially presents the controversies and tensions around bioethics and disability, and subsequently develops three epistemological dimensions: bioethics that understands disability from a human rights perspective; bioethics that investigates considering the social and critical studies of disability, and bioethics that considers the experiences lived by people with disabilities in decision-making.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Raynier Hernández, Beatriz Revuelta https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83397 2026-03-06T07:45:19+00:00 Yuexin Wang wyxhust@126.com

Modern society needs to be vigilant and respond promptly to risks. The emergence of uncertainties not only may increase the probability of risks occurring but also may exacerbate their severity. Therefore, what ethical principle should be relied on to deal with risks characterized by uncertainty has become a problem to be solved. The precautionary principle is an important ethical principle for addressing and resolving risks with uncertain features. This article aims to explain the changes of the precautionary principle in risk governance from its origin, the expansion of its geographical scope, and the increase in its application fields; and focuses on demonstrating the continuous improvement of the precautionary principle in risk governance through the transformation from the weak precautionary principle governance model with limited effectiveness to the strong precautionary principle governance model with high effectiveness.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Yuexin Wang https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83398 2026-03-06T07:54:49+00:00 Li Zhenkang lizhenkang12345@163.com

The 2018 “gene-edited babies” incident marked a critical turning point in China’s criminal regulation of gene editing. Before the incident, China largely relied on administrative rules and ethical guidelines to govern gene-editing activities, without a systematic criminal legal framework or comprehensive regulatory mechanisms. In the aftermath, China intensified its efforts to establish stronger legal controls over gene-editing technology. This study examines the regulatory landscape seven years after the event, integrating empirical data on public awareness and perceptions of gene editing with a literature-based legal analysis of the current legislative framework and its deficiencies. Through this dual approach, the paper aims to deepen understanding of the evolution of China’s criminal regulation of gene editing and to provide policy insights for China and other developing countries seeking to strike a balance between scientific innovation and ethical as well as legal accountability.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Li Zhenkang https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83399 2026-03-06T08:07:05+00:00 Tang Tao tangtao_3016@163.com Ma Yu Jie mayujie660@163.com

The rapid proliferation of digital finance in emerging economies has prompted new inquiries into the ethical, strategic, and technological orientations of youth-led enterprises. This study investigates how fintech startups founded by young entrepreneurs in BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) frame their organizational intent through mission and vision statements. Drawing upon a thematic analysis of 25 companies, the research examines the articulation of six critical constructs: ethical behavior, youth engagement, digital finance, risk perception, security vulnerabilities, and big data-driven supply chain platforms. The findings reveal a dominant emphasis on digital innovation and ethical positioning, with digital finance (34.7%) and ethical behavior (32.6%) emerging as the most frequently addressed themes. Conversely, risk-related narratives and cybersecurity discourse remain marginal, while youth engagement is conspicuously absent from most strategic texts, despite the demographic profile of the founders. Cross-national comparisons further underscore variation in thematic comprehensiveness, with Brazil and South Africa exhibiting the broadest strategic coverage. These results highlight both the potential and the narrative blind spots of youth-led digital finance enterprises in the Global South. The study advances theoretical discourse at the intersection of generational entrepreneurship, digital ethics, and platform governance, and offers actionable implications for regulators, investors, and founders aiming to foster resilient, inclusive, and ethically grounded fintech ecosystems.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Tang Tao, Ma Yu Jie https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83401 2026-03-06T14:03:39+00:00 Stefania Chiappinotto dentice.sara@spes.uniud.it Sara Dentice dentice.sara@spes.uniud.it Chris Gastmans dentice.sara@spes.uniud.it Michael Igoumenidis dentice.sara@spes.uniud.it Catherine Mc Cabe dentice.sara@spes.uniud.it Evridiki Papastavrou dentice.sara@spes.uniud.it Riitta Suhonen dentice.sara@spes.uniud.it Alessandro Galazzi dentice.sara@spes.uniud.it Alvisa Palese dentice.sara@spes.uniud.it

There is a growing need for morally competent nurses to deal with increasingly complex situations and choices as encountered in professional daily life. However, there is no updated evidence about which characteristics, knowledge, skills, and attitudes a morally competent nurse should have and how to support their development. In the context of the EU-Erasmus+ funded project PROMOCON, this study aimed to describe the moral competences of nurses in Italy. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted, involving a purposeful sample of ten nurses and six patients’ representatives in three focus groups. Findings were analyzed in an integrated manner using the content analysis. Nurses are morally competent when they provide personalised care, motivate the patients cared for, protect them in their choices, and set an example with their behaviour. They possess basic ethical, psychological, philosophical, humanistic and legal knowledge; they can understand and relate to others, not only patients/family members but also colleagues or students in difficulty by activating resources when necessary and being empathetic, patient, respectful, responsible, and flexible.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Stefania Chiappinotto, Sara Dentice, Chris Gastmans, Michael Igoumenidis, Catherine Mc Cabe, Evridiki Papastavrou, Riitta Suhonen, Alessandro Galazzi, Alvisa Palese https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83402 2026-03-06T14:10:41+00:00 Meltem Akbaş makbaskanat@gmail.com

This study was conducted descriptively and cross-sectionally to determine the attitudes of healthcare professionals towards disabled women, the factors affecting them, and to evaluate their ethical dimensions. This descriptive study was conducted between 08/01/2022 and 10/31/2022 with midwives, nurses, and doctors working at the hospitals in Kahramanmaraş/Turkey. The sample size of the study was calculated with G*Power, and 307 healthcare professionals were included in the study. The research data were collected with the Personal Information Form and the Disabled Woman Attitude Scale. The data were analyzed with the SPSS for Windows 22.0 statistical package program. The total mean age of the participants was 33.60±7.51, the mean score of the disabled women and their private lives sub-dimension was 23.97±5.72, the mean score of the disabled women and disadvantages sub-dimension was 12.68±4.37, the mean score of the disabled women and social support sub-dimension was 14.88±3.33, the mean score of the disabled women and gender sub-dimension was 9.33±3.18 and the total mean score of the scale was 60.87±13.17. In this study, it was observed that the attitudes of health workers towards disabled women were positive and that receiving training for disabled individuals and gaining experience in the care and treatment of disabled individuals positively affected the attitudes towards disabled women.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Meltem Akbaş https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83403 2026-03-06T14:23:31+00:00 Ruiqi Yang yvonne.yangrq@gmail.com Zaheer Abbas zaheerabas0313@gmail.com Zhenghong Li tonny@karon-valve.com Talib Hussain talib.hussain@kiu.edu.pk

This study examines the cultural factors influencing fashion tastes and marketing techniques of healthcare products in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Pakistan, emphasizing the region's distinctive amalgamation of tradition, traditional values, and contemporary influences. This research conducts a qualitative analysis of 120 theme responses from local participants to investigate the influence of cultural heritage, social norms, and technological advancements—specifically media and internet shopping—on fashion preferences and purchasing patterns of healthcare products. The findings underscore the pivotal influence of cultural identity and traditional values on fashion preferences, especially with modesty, community involvement, and local festivals. The study examines the increasing impact of social media and international fashion trends, as well as the obstacles and potential for local enterprises in incorporating cultural heritage into the fashion marketing of healthcare products. The study emphasizes the necessity of a balanced strategy that honors cultural traditions while integrating contemporary trends, offering insights for firms to effectively connect with local consumers. Ultimately, it proposes future study avenues centered on sustainability, digital transformation, and cross-cultural comparisons to further the comprehension of fashion marketing of healthcare products in culturally diverse areas such as Gilgit-Baltistan for healthcare products marketing.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Ruiqi Yang, Zaheer Abbas, Zhenghong Li , Talib Hussain https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83404 2026-03-06T14:32:59+00:00 Jieying Li lijieying00001@163.com Pengsen Li 18280095984@163.com

This qualitative study explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in group psychological counselling within wellness education through an ethical and interdisciplinary framework. Drawing on 30 in-depth interviews with educators and mental health professionals, the research examines perceptions of ethical digitalisation, the application of knowledge graphs for personalised emotional mapping, the role of outcome-based education (OBE) in structuring measurable psychological goals, and the impact of industry-education collaboration in co-developing AI tools. Thematic analysis identified five overarching domains: ethical governance, data-driven personalisation, outcome alignment, collaborative innovation, and cultural responsiveness. Findings reveal both enthusiasm for AI’s potential to enhance support and significant concerns regarding privacy, algorithmic bias, institutional barriers, and the need for human-centred design. The study concludes that effective implementation requires robust ethical frameworks, continuous stakeholder engagement, and adaptive educational structures. These insights offer a conceptual foundation for designing AI-supported counselling systems that align with psychological development goals while safeguarding ethical integrity in diverse educational environments.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Jieying Li, Pengsen Li https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83405 2026-03-06T14:46:27+00:00 Oya Ögenler oyaogenler@mersin.edu.tr Selda Okuyaz oyaogenler@mersin.edu.tr

Breast cancer is the most common and life-threatening cancer among women. Individual, socioeconomic and cultural characteristics, the society in which she lives, affect the woman's quality of life and health status during the cancer process. The ethical problems women experience due to breast cancer in ordinary times have become more complex with additional problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to raise awareness about the importance of the biopsychosocial approach in the physician-patient relationship through the experiences of a case diagnosed with breast cancer. Our study evaluated and compared the experiences and opinions of a 52-year-old woman diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer in the first six months of the epidemic with the literature. It is clear that breast cancer is closely linked to sexual identity, and “being a cancer patient” can be described as a life-changing crisis. The pandemic period has characteristics against the cancer patient due to restrictions. She stated that the patient diagnosed with cancer had positive characteristics, such as a physician-patient relationship and social determinants in the hospital-related processes, but she experienced social exclusion due to the pandemic period. As a result, it is clear that the biopsychosocial holistic view of the health personnel is as effective as the patient's individual characteristics and social determinants, the relationship between the patient and the health personnel, and the shaping of the treatment process.

2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Oya Ögenler, Selda Okuyaz https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83197 2026-02-18T13:26:35+00:00 Fernando Lolas Stepke flolas@uchile.cl 2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Fernando Lolas Stepke https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83406 2026-03-06T14:52:36+00:00 Fernando Lolas Stepke flolas@uchile.cl 2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Fernando Lolas Stepke https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83407 2026-03-06T14:58:57+00:00 Fernando Lolas Stepke flolas@uchile.cl 2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Fernando Lolas Stepke https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83408 2026-03-06T15:04:10+00:00 Alberto García Gómez agarcia@unescobiochair.org 2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Alberto García Gómez https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83409 2026-03-06T15:10:38+00:00 Jesús Armando Martínez Gómez jesus.armando.martinez@uaq.mx 2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Jesús Armando Martínez Gómez https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83411 2026-03-06T15:20:22+00:00 Antonio Muñoz Torres antonio.munoz@cisav.mx 2026-03-06T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Antonio Muñoz Torres