A living work: the ethical journey of Revista BioéticaConceived in mid-1992, Revista Bioética emerged during a period of democratic effervescence and institutional renewal. It was born out of the visionary understanding that no single professional category could independently address the various moral conflicts facing Brazilian society 1. As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine (CFM), the trajectory of Bioética stands as a faithful reflection of the values, challenges, and transformations that have shaped national medicine in recent decades.
Over the past three decades, the journal’s editorials constituted a parallel and critical narrative of the evolution of Brazilian medicine. From reflections on justice as a categorical imperative—bridging Kantian thought and applied ethics—to denunciations of the commodification of life, the journal has consistently positioned itself as a guardian of humanistic values of medicine 2.
The journal’s ethical foresight is exemplified in its discussion on end-of-life care. In 2013, it presented the case of a lucid older woman who refused hemodialysis, expressing her will with the words: “Lorax, Dormonid, faint, die,” clearly conveying her desire to die with dignity 3. This humanized approach to end-of-life decisions would later find normative support in CFM Resolution 1,995/2012 4, which addresses advance directives—a legal instrument the journal advocated as a means of strengthening patient autonomy.
The journal went beyond the defense of human dignity, systematically criticizing austerity policies 5 and firmly advocating for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) as a historic national achievement. From its inception, the careful composition of its Editorial Board (EB)—bringing together physicians, legal scholars, philosophers, and specialists from various fields—embodied the multidisciplinary reasoning of bioethics. This collaborative model transcended traditional disciplinary boundaries, creating space for genuine dialogue among diverse intellectual perspectives and pedagogical approaches 6.
The journal skillfully navigated the balance between necessary editorial independence and its institutional commitment to the CFM. This creative tension resulted in a publication that, although sponsored by a federal agency, consistently maintained a critical perspective on medical practices and health policies, often positioning itself as a dissenting voice when necessary. One of the most significant legacies of the journal lies in its contribution to the ethical training of healthcare professionals. The publication of Introduction to bioethics 7 over two decades ago, with a print run of 20,000 copies, democratized access to bioethical knowledge in Brazil. Professors across the country have acknowledged using this work as a reference for introducing students to bioethics, highlighting the lasting pedagogical impact of this initiative 1.
From its analysis of the judicialization of life, which warned of the risks of ethical fragmentation and the shifting of responsibilities, the editorials of Bioética constitute a living archive of social, technological, and ethical transformations that have shaped recent decades, with a remarkable capacity to identify emerging trends and offer grounded ethical reflections.
As it marks its 80th anniversary, CFM can take pride in having created and sustained one of the most respected scientific publications in bioethics in the country. The journal has established itself as a space for reflection on the soul of medicine and its simple and complex aspects, fulfilling its mission of keeping the humanistic dimension of medical practice alive 8. Positioned as a bridge to the future, Bioética will be called upon to demonstrate the same capacity for foresight and critical reflection that has defined its trajectory, as it anticipates contemporary challenges—from artificial intelligence to personalized medicine, from climate change to new forms of social exclusion. This legacy will include its analysis of Brazil’s environmental collapse with the metaphor of a street child, symbolizing a society that naturalizes exclusion and disregards the future 9.
Given this context, the reflection on the crisis of the medical profession underscores the self-critical capacity of the journal, which denounced the precariousness of medical work, mass training of professionals, and devaluation of the medical class, proposing a reconstruction of medical identity based on ethics, science, and social commitment 10.
The journal represents more than a scientific publication; it stands as a privileged witness to the ethical evolution of Brazilian medicine. Its published issues document not only the maturation of bioethics as a discipline but also CFM’s commitment to a medical practice that is both technically competent and ethically grounded.
Eighty years are like a book, with each page telling a unique story. CFM has demonstrated that professional regulation transcends mere technical standardization, reaching the fundamental ethical dimension of medical practice. Bioética remains a living expression of this commitment, reminding us that bioethics is continuously evolving, shaping ethical norms worldwide, and emphasizing our responsibility to ensure this evolution remains guided by the defense of human dignity and social justice 11.
Congratulations to the Federal Council of Medicine on an incredible 80 years. May the coming decades be marked by the same intellectual courage and ethical commitment that gave rise to Bioética, keeping alive the flame of critical reflection and social responsibility that should forever illuminate the noble art of healing and caring.
References
- 1 Costa SIF. Gênese da revista Bioética. Rev. bioét. (Impr.) [Internet]. 2025;33(2). In press.
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2 Conselho Federal de Medicina. Editorial. Rev. bioét. (Impr.) [Internet]. 2012 [acesso 4 ago 2025];20(3):387. Disponível: https://tinyurl.com/e4txe5u5
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3 Conselho Federal de Medicina. Lorax, Dormonid, desmaiar, morrer. Rev. bioét. (Impr.) [Internet]. 2013 [acesso 4 ago 2025];21(1):7. Disponível: https://tinyurl.com/4am2s376
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4 Conselho Federal de Medicina. Resolução CFM nº 1.995/2012. Dispõe sobre as diretivas antecipadas de vontade dos pacientes. Diário Oficial da União [Internet]. Brasília, p. 269-70, 31 ago 2012 [acesso 4 ago 2025]. Seção 1. Disponível: https://bit.ly/3J7OFx5
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5 Conselho Federal de Medicina. Editorial. Rev. bioét. (Impr.) [Internet]. 2014 [acesso 4 ago 2025];22(1):7. Disponível: https://tinyurl.com/5n6mcrk8
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7 Costa SIF, Oselka G, Garrafa V, coord. Iniciação à bioética [Internet]. Brasília, DF: Conselho Federal de Medicina; 1998 [acesso 7 ago 2025]. Disponível: https://bit.ly/40U1IZ7
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8 Conselho Federal de Medicina. Desigualdades na publicação científica: pontuando um recorte atual. Rev. bioét. (Impr.) [Internet]. 2015 [acesso 4 ago 2025];23(3):439-45. Disponível: https://tinyurl.com/ybks9b7k
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9 Ferreira S, Porto D. Combate à violência contra crianças e adolescentes: desafio para a sociedade brasileira. Rev. bioét. (Impr.) [Internet]. 2018 [acesso 4 ago 2025];26(1):7-11. DOI: 10.1590/1983-80422018261000
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10 Giustina TBAD. Saúde e medicina no Brasil. Rev. bioét. (Impr.) [Internet]. 2019 [acesso 4 ago 2025];27(4):583-6. DOI: 10.1590/1983-80422019274000
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11 Ferreira S, Porto D. Novo Código de Ética Médica, bioética e esperança. Rev. bioét. (Impr.) [Internet]. 2018 [acesso 4 ago 2025];26(4):479-83. DOI: 10.1590/1983-80422018264000
» https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-80422018264000
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Data availability:
All data used or generated in this study are described and presented in full in the body of the article.
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Editor in charge:
Dilza Teresinha Ambrós Ribeiro
All data used or generated in this study are described and presented in full in the body of the article.
