Expertises, Morals and Controversies: ADPF 442 and the Decriminalization of Abortion in Question

• In Event: Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research, Health Policy, and Clinical Practice – II

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the controversy installed around the decriminalization of abortion at the hearing of the indictment of the Ação de Descumprimento de Preceito Fundamental (ADPF) 442 in the Federal Supreme Court in Brazil in August 2018. From the studies on sociotechnical controversy and the role of specialists in the governance of science and technology, as well as in the resolution of conflicts and the proposition of orientation actions for health policies and decision making processes, this work has as an emphasis the analysis of the position of the scientific actors in this controversy, their arguments on the theme, and the ethical arguments they mobilize. For that, the four sessions of the public hearing (20 hours) were analyzed, and a comparative table was created where the actors were classified as favorable or contrary to the audience theme and organized into categories (government entities, scientific entities and civil society), finally, the main arguments presented by they were analyzed. As a result, it is expected to understand how gender, race, class, but also, morality (especially religion) and Brazilian public law itself have been mobilized to form the arguments of the exhibitors. In addition, we intend to discuss the relevance of the participation of specialists and lay people in the orientation of the decision making of subjects considered of national interest.

Authors

• Jonatan Sacramento, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP

• Maria da Costa, State University of Campinas