Princípio da autonomia: mapeamento das publicações na área de bioética médica

Abstract

Bioethics is a field of study dedicated to the analysis of moral and ethical issues involving research, decisions, conduct, and procedures in the areas of biology and medicine. It is based on four principles: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice or equity. Thus, the objective was to map publications on the relationship between the principles of autonomy and beneficence in medical bioethics, identifying the main trends, discussions, and practical implications in clinical decisions and in the doctor-patient relationship. This was a bibliometric research carried out in September 2024, using the National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (PUBMED) and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases and the Health Sciences Descriptors: “Autonomy”, “Bioethics”, and “Medicine”. The sample consisted of 24 articles. The studies identified varied in their themes. Some authors focus their articles on specific ethical dilemmas, such as refusal of treatment, especially in cases of Jehovah's Witness patients who require blood transfusions; informed consent; and doctor-patient communication. Others highlight the ethical dilemmas experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. In view of this, this bibliometric study mapped the publications that address the principle of autonomy in medical bioethics, indicating a considerable growth in scientific production on the subject, especially in response to contemporary ethical challenges faced in clinical practice.