Respect for privacy and confidentiality as a global bioethical principle: Own reasons from a Protestant perspective

Adriaan L Rheeder

doi:10.4102/ids.v52i3.2316

Abstract

In the development and acceptance of Article 9 of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR or also refer to as ‘the Declaration’), the United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) did not involve the Protestant faith tradition in the consultation process (other traditions were consulted). This given brings the universality (UNESCO perspective) as well as the acceptability of the Declaration and its principles (democratic perspective) into question. In order to address this issue, it is necessary to involve the Protestant tradition in the discourse by presenting own reasons that support the universal principles in the Declaration (theological perspective). This discourse shows that respect for privacy and confidentiality as universal shared values can be grounded from a theological perspective. Therefore, the appeal of the Declaration to consider this principle seriously in the field of bioethics can be supported by the Protestant religious tradition.

Highlights

In this article, attention will be given to the universal bioethical and human rights principle as formulated in Article 9 of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR) of the United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO 2006)
What is UNESCO’s interpretation of the concept of privacy? In their explanation of Article 9, both Stiennon (2009:166) and Martin (2014:120) use the definition of the International Bioethics Committee (IBC) of UNESCO as found in UNESCO’s Explanatory memorandum on the elaboration of the preliminary draft declaration on universal norms on bioethics of June 2005: A right to privacy guarantees a control over personal information in many ways
In order to address this issue, it is necessary to involve the Protestant tradition in the discourse by presenting own reasons that support the universal principles in the Declaration

Summary

Introduction

Attention will be given to the universal bioethical and human rights principle as formulated in Article 9 of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR) of the United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO 2006). In their explanation of Article 9, both Stiennon (2009:166) and Martin (2014:120) use the definition of the International Bioethics Committee (IBC) of UNESCO as found in UNESCO’s Explanatory memorandum on the elaboration of the preliminary draft declaration on universal norms on bioethics of June 2005: A right to privacy guarantees a control over personal information in many ways. Article 7 of the UDBHR states clearly a substitute (person or instance) has the right and obligation to protect the privacy of persons without the capacity to consent by means of surrogate consent (UNESCO 2006).

Results

Conclusion