Abstract
Following the democratization of Brazil, the country’s legal system evolved towards that of a Romano-Germanic one, with its adoption of the 1988 Constitution. The new Constitution raised the principle of the dignity of the human person to the rank of a “pillar”, on which rest other fundamental rights, ones that serve as guidelines for the interpretation and application of the law. After its incorporation into legislative and regulatory texts, the principle of dignity aims to strengthen or supplant gradually the rights already in existence. In the context of legal issues related to biomedicine, this principle has a prominent place. Before discussing its application within biomedical legal contexts, it is important to recognize its widespread significance and legal applications within case law, in general. In order to demonstrate the applications and significance of this principle in Brazilian law, it is important to note its legal recognition by the law and by case law (1), before focusing on the specific application of this principle in relation to biomedical practices (2).
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Notes
- 1.
Article 1 of the Federal Constitution of 1988, III.
- 2.
Article 5 of the Federal Constitution of 1988.
- 3.
Article 6 and article 196 of the Federal Constitution of 1988.
- 4.
Article 6 of the Federal Constitution of 1988 (after the constitutional amendment of 14/02/2000).
- 5.
Article 5 of the Federal Constitution of 1988.
- 6.
Article 5 of the Federal Constitution of 1988.
- 7.
Article 5 of the Federal Constitution of 1988.
- 8.
Article 125 of the Federal Constitution of 1988.
- 9.
HC 95464, Relator Min. Celso de Mello, Segunda Turma, julgado em 02/03/2009, DJe-048 divulg 12/03/2009 public 13-03-2009, Ement. vol. 02352-03, 00466.
- 10.
Sarmento, D. (2006). Direitos fundamentais e relações privadas. Rio de Janeiro: Lumen Juris, 140.
- 11.
Martin, I. (2010). Reconnaissance, respect et sollicitude : vers une analyse intégrée des exigences de la dignité humaine. Lex Electronica, 15(2).
- 12.
Sarlet, I. W. (2008). As dimensões da dignidade da pessoa humana: uma compreensão juridico-constitucional aberta e compatível com os desafios da biotecnologia. In Direitos Fundamentais e Biotecnologia, eds I. W. Sarlet, G. S. Leite, 37. São Paulo: Método.
- 13.
Article 6 of the Federal Constitution of 1988.
- 14.
Article 6 of the Federal Constitution of 1988.
- 15.
The phenomenon known as the “judicialisation” of health.
- 16.
Brasil-STF, ADI 4277 Rel. Min Ayres Britto, julg. em 05/05/2011, DJe 198, Div 13/10/2011. Public 10/14/2011, Ement. vol. 02607-03, 00341. STJ - Embargos de Declaração em Recurso Especial, no. 633713 RS- 2004/0028417-4 STJ en 28/02/2014.
- 17.
Brasil-STJ, Resp. no. 1.183-378 RS, 2010/003663-8. Rel. Min. L. F. Salomão. Casamento entre pessoas do mesmo sexo. DJe. 01/02/2012.
- 18.
Brasil-STJ, Resp. no. 889852 RS, 27 abril 2010. Rel. Min. L. F. Salomão. DJe. Brasilia. D.F. 08/10/2010.
- 19.
Decisão do Tribunal de Alçada do Estado de Minas Gerais, assim ementada: indenização danos morais, relação paterno-filial, princípio da dignidade da pessoa humana – princípio da afetividade – TJ-MG, Ap. Cív. 408.550-5, Rel. Juiz Unias Silva, Julg. em 01/04/2004 (Disponível em: http://tj-mg.jusbrasil.com.br/jurisprudencia/6066308/102510802614140011-mg-1025108026141-4-001-1/inteiro-teor-12206203).
- 20.
Lei 13.105 de 16 de março de 2015. Código de Processo civil, art 8. Ao aplicar o ordenamento jurídico, o juiz atenderá aos fins sociais e às exigências do bem comum, resguardando e promovendo a dignidade da pessoa humana e observando a proporcionalidade, a razoabilidade, a legalidade, a publicidade e a eficiência.
- 21.
See below.
- 22.
Resolução no. 466 de 12 de dezembro de 2012, Conselho Nacional de Saúde – CNS.
- 23.
Resolução do Conselho Federal de Medicina no. 1995 de 2012 CFM.
- 24.
Código de Ética Médica, Capítulo I, Princípios fundamentais, VI.
- 25.
Lenoir, N. and Mathieu, B. (1998). Les normes internationales de la bioéthique. Paris: PUF, 16.
- 26.
Article 5, law 11.105/2005.
- 27.
Whether the embryos are non-viable or frozen, there is at least three (3) years or more until the date of publication of the law.
- 28.
Brasil-STF - ADI 3510. Lei de Biossegurança. Tribunla Pleno. Relator Min. Ayres Britto. Julg. 29/05/2008. DJe. 096 – Div. 27/05/2010. Ement. vol. 02403-01, 00134.
- 29.
In accordance with Article 9, paragraph 1 of law no. 9868/99.
- 30.
Article 5 of the Federal Constitution of 1988.
- 31.
Article 1, III of the Federal Constitution of 1988.
- 32.
Brasil-STF - ADI 3510, op. cit.
- 33.
See Articles 124 and following of the Criminal Code of 1940.
- 34.
Article 128 of the Criminal Code of 1940.
- 35.
ADPF no. 54, which was decided in 2012 by the Federal Supreme Court.
- 36.
According to articles 124, 126 and 28, sections I and II of the Criminal Code.
- 37.
Supremo Tribunal Federal, Ação de Descumprimento de Preceito fundamental, ADPF no. 54-DF, Relator Min. M. Aurélio, j. 11-12 abril 2012; Boletim Informativo, no. 661, Brasília, 18 de abril de 2012.
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Crespo-Brauner, MC., Cavalcante Lobato, A.O. (2018). Human Dignity in Brazilian Law: A Founding Principle of Laws and Court Judgements. In: Feuillet-Liger, B., Orfali, K. (eds) The Reality of Human Dignity in Law and Bioethics. Ius Gentium: Comparative Perspectives on Law and Justice, vol 71. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99112-2_13
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